Propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol allergy
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am a 41-year-old male, 180 cm tall and weighing 85 kg.
The following allergies are known to me: pollen allergy (strong, grasses, birch, alder, hazelnut, etc.), insect venom allergy (moderate, mosquito, horse-fly, wasp, bee), sun allergy (mild to moderate), cross allergies / food allergies (hazelnuts, apples, etc.), contact / skin allergies (some ointments, creams, mouthwashes, perfumes, disinfectants), medication allergy (metoclopramide [MCP]/paspertin, respiratory arrest, loss of consciousness, circulatory collapse, potentially fatal without immediate countermeasures).
In addition, I have a pre-stage of bronchial asthma; not requiring treatment.
I am prone to external and internal inflammations for which no cause has been found so far.
I also have mild to moderate intolerances to the following medications: ASA generics (except original Bayer Aspirin), paracetamol, bisoprolol, possibly also metoprolol succinate.
I suffer from acquired narrow complex tachycardia; high suspicion of AV nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) with sudden onset/sudden offset, 199-250 bpm. According to my cardiologist, this is not an acutely life-threatening heart rhythm disorder as long as no other organic heart diseases (heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve, myocarditis) are present. This disorder has not been ablated by EP study, but is currently suppressed by the beta and alpha blocker carvedilol, previously with metoprolol succinate. Carvedilol is also used in my case to treat high blood pressure.
One of the many known triggers of tachycardia was the administration of a local anesthesia injection at the dentist, which, to my knowledge, usually contains larger amounts of Ultracain + adrenaline; therefore, in the event of an allergic shock, the administration of adrenaline could be problematic from my layman's point of view.
In 2019, I received the following so-called tropical vaccinations: cholera (Dukoral), typhoid (Typhim Vi), Japanese encephalitis (Ixjaro), hepatitis (Twinrix), rabies (Rabipur). Several vaccinations were administered at once at various locations + oral vaccination. After 10 minutes, there was a temporary presyncope, a significant drop in blood pressure, dizziness, orthostatic dysregulation/"blacking out", ringing in the ears, cold sweat, weakness, tremors, palpitations/heart palpitations, and breathing problems. Discharged after 60 minutes of observation. Since several vaccinations were administered at once, the cause could not be determined. Weeks of flu-like symptoms followed.
I do not tolerate the flu shot at all ("flu arm", nonspecific internal inflammations over several weeks).
I have so far tolerated the so-called STIKO standard vaccinations + boosters (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, etc. / e.g. Priorix, Boostrix) well.
After a 6-month "stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver" odyssey and various laboratory exclusions of all earthly digestive diseases, it is becoming apparent that an intolerance or possibly even an allergy to the main carrier substance 1,2-propylene glycol (PG, also known as 1,2-propandiol) has developed due to the significant consumption of e-cigarettes and, most recently, nicotine withdrawal products (nicotine spray). This apparently led to significant irritations and inflammations throughout the digestive tract with diarrhea, constipation, radiating pain, mucus inclusions, 4-fold increased lysozyme levels and sometimes blood inclusions as well as occasional irritations of the esophagus, bronchi, lungs, and increased heart palpitations. These complaints are now quickly resolving or are no longer present after discontinuation. For safety reasons, a gastroscopy and colonoscopy will be performed soon (100% exclusion of cancer, polyps, colitis). However, I only got an appointment with a local allergist in October.
After an internet search, I noticed that this carrier substance is nominally, chemically, and in terms of properties/application areas almost identical to the carrier substance 1,2-polyethylene glycol (PEG). According to the package insert, this is a significant component of the new BioNTech (and Moderna) vaccine, which I am supposed to receive in two weeks at the state health center.
I am concerned that in my case there may be an (cross) intolerance/allergy to this substance, which is also suspected in the press to rarely lead to an allergic shock and internal inflammations (especially myocarditis/pericarditis).
