ABSTRACT
Background: Although hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids are rare in the general population, they are not uncommon in high-risk patients who receive repeated doses of them. It is known that delayed reactions are more common than immediate ones. Atopic dermatitis is a risk factor for the development of allergic contact dermatitis from topical corticosteroids. Patients can also develop hypersensitivity reactions to nasal, inhaled, oral and parenteral corticosteroids. Method(s): We reported one case of a 72-year- old man with history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD 4) and atopic dermatitis, who experienced a morbilliform rash after intravenous hydrocortisone administration during his hospital admission for SARS-COV- 2 infection. Since 1995 he had experienced several late skin reactions with corticosteroids and after performing an allergy study he was diagnosed of delayed hypersensitivity to corticosteroids with good tolerance for intravenous hydrocortisone and inhaled mometasone. Closed patch tests were performed with hydrocortisone with immediate and late lectures of 48-96 hours. We also performed a controlled intravenous challenge with hydrocortisone (200 mg) as well as an oral challenge with deflazacort (30 mg) under surveillance in the intensive care unit. Result(s): Patch tests were negative and intravenous hydrocortisone challenge went positive after 48 hours with the same previous skin reaction. Our patient showed a good tolerance to deflazacort. Conclusion(s): Choosing an alternative corticosteroid is pivotal to the patient's safety and also decreases the worry of developing an allergic reaction. This evaluation becomes especially important in high-risk groups where steroids are a life-saving treatment. Baeck et al. classified corticosteroids according to their chemical structure, improving treatment options and recommendations that can be prescribed. Nevertheless, discordance continues to be observed between the results of patch tests and the patient's tolerance to various commercial preparations. In order to provide alternative treatments, it is advisable to perform exposure tests with corticosteroids from a group other than the one the patient is sensitized to. Deflazacort could be an alternative in emergency cases. (Figure Presented).