[Allergic and pseudo-allergic reactions to drugs in an Icelandic urban population 20-44 years of age.].
OBJECTIVE
Allergic or pseudo-allergic reactions to drugs are common complaints. The symptoms vary from mild to life threatening. Although the mechanisms for most drug reactions are unknown or uncertain such reactions are believed to be more common among atopic individuals. Our goal was: 1) To estimate the prevalence of allergic and pseudo-allergic drug reactions in a random urban Icelandic population 20-44 years of age. 2) To search for the characteristics of symptoms and which drugs were involved in such reactions, 3) their association to atopy and atopic diseases and 4) to find possible risk factors.


METHODS
In the second stage of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey an urban population 20-44 years of age was invited to participate. In Iceland altogether 545 answered an additional question: Have you at any time had allergic reaction to drugs? Those who answered yes to this question were contacted later by telephone and asked further about drug allergy.


RESULTS
Altogether 77 (14%) replied yes to the question, more females (19%) than males (9%) (p<0.001). Atopic individuals (with one or more positive prick tests) and those with nasal allergies, eczema, urticaria and illness caused by eating a particular food or foods reported allergic drug reactions more often (p<0.05). IgE geometric mean value was 17.5 kU/L for those who reported allergic drug reaction compared to 12.6 kU/L among the others (p=0.08). The most common symptoms associated with drugs were skin symptoms (urticaria, angioneurotic edema), symptoms from respiratory organs and fever. With further inquiries by telephone 13/64 denied drug allergy. Thus 51/64 (80%) withheld their questionnaire answers. Antibiotics were most often blamed for drug reactions, followed by anaesthetics, NSAID and opiates.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a correlation between reported drug reactions and atopy and/or atopic diseases. The drug reactions were more than twice as common in women as in men. The only comparable study we know of, shows the prevalence of drug reactions on the same level as in Iceland.
Skuladottir
H
H
Gislason
D
D
Gislason
T
T