Severe hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids in children.
OBJECTIVE
To present 3 children with hypersensitivity reaction to methylprednisolone sodium-succinate and review the literature regarding such reactions.


METHODS
Data on the clinical features were obtained from the children's files. Skin prick tests were performed with a panel of corticosteroid preparations.


RESULTS
Three patients (5, 7, and 8 years) with asthma who were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone succinate at the emergency department developed hypersensitivity reactions initially consider to be due to their primary disease. Two had a positive skin prick test to methylprednisolone sodium succinate but not to other corticosteroids or to the succinate ester. Skin prick tests to different corticosteroids, performed 4 years after the event in the third patient, were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Methylprednisolone sodium-succinate may cause anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions in children. Our patients' histories emphasize the importance of awareness to corticosteroid-induced reactions, especially in children with asthma in whom the symptoms may be considered as an exacerbation of their primary illness.
Nahum
Amit
A
Department of Pediatrics, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School Jerusalem, Israel.
Garty
Ben Zion
BZ
Marcus
Nufar
N
Shoenfeld
Tommy
T
Levy
Yael
Y
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004630:Emergencies; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate