title: Drug allergy.
abstract: Although allergic drug reactions are just one type of adverse reaction to medications, they are clinically very important because of the morbidity and mortality they cause. An ever-expanding pharmacopeia increases the potential for allergic drug reactions. An understanding of the types of allergic drug reactions, their immunopathologic mechanisms, and the most likely medications involved; an approach to determine the drug responsible for the reaction; and ways to prevent future allergic drug reactions are important features in minimizing patient morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests