{"id":"93fb44af-fad7-4164-ad8e-a988bd494670","slug":"nickel-release-and-surveying-in-surgical-clip-alopecia","title":"Nickel release and surveying in surgical clip alopecia","authors":["Chandler W. Rundle","Sharon E. Jacob"],"abstract":"Background: The article discusses a case of contact alopecia in a woman following cerebral aneurysm surgery, attributed to nickel release from surgical materials. The patient had a history of contact dermatitis to metal jewelry, which supports the hypothesis of nickel as a contributing factor to her symptoms. Summary: The authors highlight the importance of recognizing the eczematous inflammatory response as a precursor to alopecia, distinguishing it from alopecia areata. They suggest that testing for free nickel release from surgical stainless steel using the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) nickel spot test could provide a definitive answer regarding the allergen's presence. Conclusion: The authors advocate for the implementation of the DMG nickel spot test in evaluating surgical metals, while also emphasizing the need for patch testing as the gold standard for diagnosing metal allergies. They call for improved regulations regarding nickel content in medical instruments to prevent allergic reactions. Keywords: nickel, contact alopecia, surgical clips, metal allergy, dimethylglyoxime, patch testing, surgical materials","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/93fb44af-fad7-4164-ad8e-a988bd494670/featured/hero-1782420905305.png","publishDate":"2016-10-26T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.193099","categories":["Letter to the Editor"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/93fb44af-fad7-4164-ad8e-a988bd494670/pdf"}