[Allergy to macrolides. 21 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Allergic drug reactions to macrolides are extremely rare and there is little information in the literature concerning relevant diagnostic tests.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients were recently seen for assumed allergies (principally urticaria) to diverse macrolides. Skin tests (prick and intradermal tests) were performed with injectable forms of spiramycin and erythromycin. Seventeen out of 21 patients were provoked under strict hospital surveillance.


RESULTS
Only 3 patients had a positive provocation test and were thus truly allergic (to spiromycin). They had positive skin tests to both macrolides tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Most hypersensitivity reactions to macrolides are therefore diagnosed with provocation tests.
Demoly
P
P
Maladies respiratoires, Hôpital Amaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier. demoly@montp.inserm.fr
Benahmed
S
S
Sahla
H
H
Messaad
D
D
Valembois
M
M
Godard
P
P
Michel
F B
FB
Bousquet
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D018942:Macrolides; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides