title: Sulfonamide hypersensitivity.
abstract: Sulfonamide antibiotics can result in a wide variety of hypersensitivity reactions. No validated diagnostic tests are available for sulfonamide reactions; therefore, clinicians must rely on the combination of a careful patient history, review of medical records, and a sound knowledge base regarding the common clinical manifestations of sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions. Although HIV-infected individuals have a high risk for hypersensitivity reactions to sulfamethoxazole, readministering the drug can usually be performed safely by using a desensitization protocol. Sulfonamide-containing medications that are not antibiotics also have the capacity for causing hypersensitivity reactions. Whether the sulfa moiety confers a risk of cross-reaction is controversial. The preponderance of available evidence suggests that sulfonamide antibiotics probably do not cross-react with sulfonamide nonantibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Slatore
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tilles
mesh_terms: D003429:Cross Reactions; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013449:Sulfonamides