title: Epidemiologic and clinical features of anaphylaxis in Korea.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: So-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-Wan
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sae-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyouk-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Chang-Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Heung-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun-Sin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyung-Up
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: You-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001514:Bee Venoms