Volume 19, Issue 2 pp. 129-133
CASE REPORT

Allergy to polyethylene glycol/macrogol following dental surgery

Verah Harper

Corresponding Author

Verah Harper

Department of Allergy, Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK

Correspondence

Dr Verah Harper, Department of Allergy, Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.

Email: [email protected]

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Safiyah Nasser

Safiyah Nasser

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK

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Shuaib Nasser

Shuaib Nasser

Department of Allergy, Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK

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First published: 30 November 2021

Abstract

Background

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are polyether compounds widely used as excipients within the pharmaceutical industry. PEG allergy is rare but increasingly reported as an unexpected cause for anaphylaxis including to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Presentation is usually with anaphylaxis to multiple unrelated drugs/products.

Case Presentation

We report a case of a 25-year-old man who had allergic reactions following root canal treatment with Odontopaste and a second reaction after a single dose of phenoxymethylpenicillin (PEG 6000). Allergy investigations confirmed PEG allergy.

Conclusion

All dental healthcare practitioners should be aware of a potentially life-threatening allergy to PEG, an excipient often overlooked during investigation of anaphylaxis.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

All authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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