Intolerance to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: results of controlled drug challenges in 98 patients.
BACKGROUND
Controlled oral challenge is the only definitive way to detect the different clinical manifestations of intolerance to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).


OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to describe the clinical manifestations of drug challenges in a population with histories of intolerance to NSAIDs.


METHODS
Two-hundred forty subjects were included in a single-blind, placebo-controlled drug challenge protocol.


RESULTS
Eighty patients exhibited a positive response to drug challenge: 52 had isolated periorbital angioedema, 13 had cutaneous rashes, eight had bronchial asthma (7 with associated periorbital angioedema), three had nasoocular reactions, and four had systemic anaphylaxis. In another 18 patients who were referred for treatment because of a reaction suggesting systemic anaphylaxis, the implicated drug was not given, but tolerance to other NSAIDs was found. The mean age of patients with isolated periorbital angioedema was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of the other groups of NSAID reactors. A significant increase (p < 0.001) in atopy was found among patients with isolated periorbital angioedema (100%) in comparison with other patients with NSAID intolerance (45.6%). NSAID cross-reactivity was a common finding, but cross-reactivity was not found in two cases of periorbital angioedema, one case of urticaria, one case of bronchial asthma, and 18 cases of systemic anaphylaxis.


CONCLUSIONS
In atopic subjects, isolated periorbital angioedema constitutes the most frequent manifestation of NSAID intolerance. Such patients are younger than other NSAID reactors and commonly have intolerance to several NSAIDs.
Quiralte
J
J
Sección de Alergia, Hospital Universitario, Nuestra Señora del Pino, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Blanco
C
C
Castillo
R
R
Delgado
J
J
Carrillo
T
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal