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The cases of three patients who had dermatosis that was caused by an orthopaedic implant are reported. The main clinical pattern was localized or generalized eczema or urticaria. The diagnostic criteria that have been proposed by various authors are reviewed. Removal of the implant did not always result in rapid disappearance of the dermatosis, presumably because a few particles of metal remained in the area of the implant.

A double-blind trial was carried out in 48 patients with allergic disorders to compare the efficacy and tolerance of mequitazine and brompheniramine. Patients received either 10 mg mequitazine or 24 mg brompheniramine daily, divided into 2 doses, for 14 days. The results, analyzed from patients' answers to a questionnaire recorded on a daily basis, showed that mequitazine was at least as effective as brompheniramine and caused significantly less drowsiness throughout the trial period. Few other side-effects were reported.