title: Idiopathic anaphylaxis: variants as diagnostic and therapeutic problems.
abstract: Idiopathic anaphylaxis presents a problem requiring rapid diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Some cases are complex and difficult to assess. We present four cases of unusual complexity to illustrate diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Two cases were found not to be idiopathic anaphylaxis, one being undifferentiated somatoform idiopathic anaphylaxis and the other very severe urticaria. Various conditions can be or mimic idiopathic anaphylaxis, and patience and observation can result in reasonable outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3008, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saltoun
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone