title: The effectiveness of desensitization versus rechallenge treatment in HIV-positive patients with previous hypersensitivity to TMP-SMX: a randomized multicentric study. C.I.S.A.I. Group.
abstract: Our study was undertaken to evaluate if desensitization treatment is more effective than rechallenge in preventing hypersensitivity reactions in HIV-positive patients with previous allergic reactions to TMP-SMX; the secondary aim was to evaluate the frequency of reactions to TMP alone. This was a randomized, multicentre open study. Patients with previous documented hypersensitivity to TMP-SMX who required primary or secondary PCP prophylaxis were enrolled; subjects who had previously had serious adverse reactions to TMP-SMX were excluded. All eligible patients assumed 200 mg TMP for 14 days and in case of no reactions were randomized for desensitization or rechallenge with TMP-SMX. The patients were then followed up by periodical visits for six months. Seventy-three patients were enrolled; 14 subjects (19%) presented reactions on TMP alone during the pre-enrollment phase. The remaining 59 subjects were randomly assigned to the two treatment groups: 34 carried out desensitization (group 1) and 25 rechallenge (group 2) with TMP-SMX. Seven patients in group 1 (20.5%) and seven in group 2 (28%) showed hypersensitivity reactions during treatment; this difference was not statistically significant. No serious reaction occurred in either group. This study showed the comparable effectiveness of the desensitization procedure and rechallenge in patients with a previous, not serious, allergic reaction to TMP-SMX.
authors.affiliation: Ist Dept. of Infectious Diseases and Allergy, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pusterla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libanore
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cagni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franzetti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Faggion
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landonio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quirino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination