title: Drug hypersensitivity reactions: pathomechanism and clinical symptoms.
abstract: Small molecules, used as drugs, can induce immune reactions by binding covalently as haptens to a carrier protein, which is thereby modified and immunogenic. In addition, drugs bind to proteins via hydrogen bonds, electrostatic force, and van der Waals forces, and may directly interact with immune receptors such as T cell receptors or major histocompatibility complex molecules (pharmacologic interaction with immune receptors, so-called p-i concept). Even this noncovalent interaction may stimulate T cells. The ensuing immune response based on hapten-peptide presentation or direct drug-receptor interaction results in many distinct clinical situations. Based on progress in T cell immunology, this heterogeneity of T cell reaction is now also reflected in a subclassification of type IVa to IVd reactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergology, Clinic for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology/Allergology, Inselspital, University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. werner.pichler@insel.ch
authors.forename: Werner J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daubner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gentinetta
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yerly
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006241:Haptens / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006241:Haptens; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D007073:Immunoglobulin E