Drug-induced anaphylaxis survey in Portuguese Allergy Departments.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Drug-induced anaphylaxis is an unpredictable and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of drug-induced anaphylaxis in Portugal. METHODS: During a 4-year period a nationwide notification system for anaphylaxis was implemented, with voluntary reporting by allergists. Data on 313 patients with drug anaphylaxis were received and reviewed. Statistical analysis included distribution tests and multiple logistic regression analysis to investigate significance, regression coefficients, and marginal effects. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 43.8 (17.4) years, and 8.3% were younger than 18 years. The female to male ratio was 2:1.The main culprits were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (47.9% of cases), antibiotics (35.5%), and anesthetic agents (6.1%). There was a predominance of mucocutaneous symptoms (92.2%), followed by respiratory symptoms (80.4%) and cardiovascular symptoms (49.0%). Patients with NSAID-induced anaphylaxis showed a tendency towards respiratory and mucocutaneous manifestations. We found no significant associations between age, sex, or atopy and type of drug. Anaphylaxis recurrence was observed in 25.6% of cases, and the risk was higher when NSAIDs were involved. CONCLUSIONS: NSAIDs were the most common cause of anaphylaxis in this study and were also associated with a higher rate of recurrence. We stress the need for better therapeutic management and prevention of recurring episodes of drug-induced anaphylaxis.

Drug-induced anaphylaxis survey in Portuguese Allergy Departments

Background and Objective: Drug-induced anaphylaxis is an unpredictable and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of drug-induced anaphylaxis in Portugal. Methods: During a 4-year period a nationwide notification system for anaphylaxis was implemented, with voluntary reporting by allergists. Data on 313 patients with drug anaphylaxis were received and reviewed. Statistical analysis included distribution tests and multiple logistic regression analysis to investigate significance, regression coefficients, and marginal effects. Results: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 43.8 (17.4) years, and 8.3% were younger than 18 years. The female to male ratio was 2:1. The main culprits were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (47.9% of cases), antibiotics (35.5%), and anesthetic agents (6.1%). There was a predominance of mucocutaneous symptoms (92.2%), followed by respiratory symptoms (80.4%) and cardiovascular symptoms (49.0%). Patients with NSAID-induced anaphylaxis showed a tendency towards respiratory and mucocutaneous manifestations. We found no significant associations between age, sex, or atopy and type of drug. Anaphylaxis recurrence was observed in 25.6% of cases, and the risk was higher when NSAIDs were involved. Conclusions: NSAIDs were the most common cause of anaphylaxis in this study and were also associated with a higher rate of recurrence. We stress the need for better therapeutic management and prevention of recurring episodes of drug-induced anaphylaxis (AU)

Antecedentes: La anafilaxia inducida por medicamentos es una reacción adversa impredecible y potencialmente fatal. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar las causas de la misma en Portugal. Método: Durante un periodo de 4 años fue desarrollado un sistema de notificación nacional de anafilaxia enfocado al informe voluntario de los alergólogos. Se recopilaron 313 casos de pacientes con anafilaxia por medicamentos. El análisis estadístico incluyó test de distribución y regresión logística múltiple para analizar la significación y los coeficientes de regresión y efectos marginales. Resultados: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 43.8 ± 17.4 años, 8.3% menores de 18 años. La relación mujer/varón fue de 2:1. El grupo más frecuentemente implicado fue el de los analgésicos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINEs), seguido de los antibióticos y anestésicos en 47.9%, 35.5% y 6.1% de los casos respectivamente. Se observó un predominio de los síntomas mucocutáneos (92.2%), seguidos de los respiratorios (80.4%) y cardiovasculares (49.0%). Los pacientes con anafilaxia por AINEs mostraban más síntomas respiratorios y mucocutáneos. No se encontró asociación entre edad, género y atopia con los diferentes grupos de medicamentos. La recurrencia de anafilaxia se observó en el 25.6% de los casos, con un riesgo incrementado cuando los AINEs eran los responsables. Conclusiones: En este estudio, los AINEs fueron los medicamentos más frecuentemente implicados en las reacciones de anafilaxia y mostraron más frecuencia de reincidencia de las reacciones. Es importante evaluar bien los tratamientos y prevenir la reincidencia de anafilaxia por medicamentos (AU)