Drug-induced urticaria.
The occurrence of acute urticaria during treatment with drugs is a frequent event which poses two problems: 1) is the urticaria connected with the drug administration or with the underlying pathology which led to the prescription of the drug; 2) is the urticaria allergic in origin, i.e. due to specific immunity triggers, in particular IgE directed against the drug, or is the urticaria pseudo-allergic in origin, i.e. due to non-specific activation of mastocytes [1]? This question is of major importance because allergic events caused by IgE are potentially fatal while pseudo-allergic events are only rarely life-threatening. In this article we will not deal with contact urticaria where the cause is easily identifiable [2].
Cousin
F
F
UF Immunolgie Clinique et Allergologie, Service de Pneumologie, CHU Lyon-Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite cedex, France. jenny.messenger@chu-lyon.fr
Philips
K
K
Favier
B
B
Bienvenu
J
J
Nicolas
J F
JF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007705:Kinins / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D007705:Kinins; D016718:Arachidonic Acid