Epidemiologic and clinical features of anaphylaxis in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the characteristics of anaphylaxis in Korea or even in Asia.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of anaphylaxis and the clinical features of patients with anaphylaxis in a Korean tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review from January 1, 2000, through July 31, 2006, of 138 patients with anaphylaxis, including inpatients, outpatients, and emergency department visitors, in the Seoul National University Hospital.


RESULTS
Among 978,146 patients, 138 (0.014%) had anaphylaxis. Two cardiopulmonary resuscitations were performed and 1 death occurred. The total mortality rate of anaphylactic patients was 0.0001%. The causes of anaphylaxes were drug (35.3%), food (21.3%), food-dependent exercise-induced (13.2%), idiopathic (13.2%), insect stings (11.8%), exercise induced (2.9%), blood products (1.5%), and latex (0.7%). Radiocontrast media and buckwheat were the leading causes of drug and food anaphylaxis, respectively. The organs most frequently involved in the anaphylaxis were cutaneous (95.7%), cardiovascular (76.8%), and respiratory (74.6%). The most common manifestations were dyspnea (71.3%), urticaria (81.9%), and angioedema (69.4%). Three of 138 patients (2.2%) had biphasic reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence, mortality rate, and clinical features of Korean patients with anaphylaxis were similar to rates for patients from other countries, despite some differences in causative agents.
Yang
Min-Suk
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
So-Hee
SH
Kim
Tae-Wan
TW
Kwon
Jae-Woo
JW
Lee
Sang-Min
SM
Kim
Sae-Hoon
SH
Kwon
Hyouk-Soo
HS
Park
Chang-Han
CH
Park
Heung-Woo
HW
Kim
Sun-Sin
SS
Cho
Sang-Heon
SH
Min
Kyung-Up
KU
Kim
You-Young
YY
Chang
Yoon-Seok
YS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D019612:Fagopyrum / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001514:Bee Venoms