Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Drugs as important factors causing allergies

January 29, 2016

Drugs as important factors causing allergies

Postepy Dermatol Alergol

v.32(5); 2015 Oct

PMC4692812

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015 Oct; 32(5): 388–392.

Published online 2015 Oct 29. doi: 10.5114/pdia.2014.44021

PMCID: PMC4692812

Wioletta A. Żukiewicz-Sobczak, corresponding author

1 Paula Wróblewska,2 Piotr Adamczuk,2 Jacek Zwoliński,2 Anna Oniszczuk,3 Paulina Wojtyła-Buciora,4 and Wojciech Silny5

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Abstract

Medications can cause many adverse reactions, both non-immunologic and immunologic ones. Allergies can take many forms, allergic reactions include all types of reactions according to Gell and Coombs. Typically, allergic reactions to drugs are manifested by skin lesions such as maculopapular rash or urticaria and life-threatening systemic reactions such as anaphylaxis.

Allergy to drugs is diagnosed based on medical history and a number of specific tests: skin tests, blood tests. In diagnosing the causes of anaphylaxis, the basophil activation test is used to exclude false negative and false positive results of skin tests and specific IgE levels. Allergic reactions to medications usually resolve themselves after discontinuation of the drug. Sometimes in the treatment anti-allergic drugs are used to inhibit the development of skin lesions. After observing any signs of drug allergy it is important to accurately diagnose the cause, since the subsequent exposure to the drug may lead to a strong anaphylactic reaction and consequently death.