title: In vitro diagnosis of immediate allergic reactions to drugs: an update.
abstract: Evaluation of allergic reactions to drugs is difficult because of the poor sensitivity of in vivo tests, which makes controlled administration of the drug necessary to confirm the diagnosis. In vitro tests are important in order to avoid the risks of in vivo testing. In the present review, we describe the different methods for detecting immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies that are specific to drugs involved in the development of type I (immediate) reactions. The 2 main in vitro methods are immunoassays and the basophil activation test, both of which have sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the detection of specific IgE antibodies, although with a limited number of drugs, and they have proven complementary to in vivo methods. We show the importance of the allergological workup of the patient within less than 1 year from the occurrence of the allergic reaction in order to obtain positive results in both in vivo and in vitro tests.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Fundación IMABIS--Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain. mayorga.lina@gmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayorga
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrador
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lahoz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Longo Areso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López Hoyos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez Quesada
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Monteseirín
mesh_terms: D015549:Basophil Degranulation Test; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007118:Immunoassay; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000939:Epitopes; D047090:beta-Lactams; D007073:Immunoglobulin E