Female sex as a risk factor for penicillin allergy.
BACKGROUND
Identification of risk factors is an integral part of a physician's evaluation of a patient.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether female sex is an independent risk factor for penicillin allergy.


METHODS
Rates of positive penicillin skin test (PST) results, according to sex, were determined in patients with a history of penicillin allergy undergoing penicillin allergy evaluation with major and minor determinants of penicillin between June 1, 2002, and June 30, 2004. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sex differences in the rates of positive PST results.


RESULTS
Of the 1,921 patients, 1,759 underwent PST and 157 did not; 5 medical records were not available for review. The mean patient age was 60 years. Sixty-four patients (4%) had a positive PST reaction; of these, 53 (83%) were females and 11 (17%) were males (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.9-7.2; P < .001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, history of multiple drug allergies, and elapsed time from the initial penicillin adverse drug reaction to PST, female sex again had a significant risk of a positive PST reaction (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.6-6.7; P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
A greater risk of penicillin allergy exists in association with female sex in patients with a history of penicillin allergy.
Park
Miguel A
MA
Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. park.miguel@mayo.edu
Matesic
Damir
D
Markus
Patricia J
PJ
Li
James T C
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D044482:Benzeneacetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012882:Skin Tests
D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D010406:Penicillins; C509029:benzylpenicilloyl G polylysine; C008782:penicilloic acid; D000658:Amoxicillin; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010400:Penicillin G