IgE-mediated allergy to pholcodine and cross-reactivity to neuromuscular blocking agents: Lessons from flow cytometry.
BACKGROUND
Immunoglubulin E antibody-mediated allergic reactions to opioids are rare and difficult to document correctly.


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the basophil activation test in the diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy to the antitussive pholcodine and associated sensitizations to neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA).


METHODS
Three patients with a suspected IgE-mediated allergy to pholcodine were investigated using skin tests, quantification of specific IgE, and flow cytometric activation of basophils.


CONCLUSIONS
Flow cytometric activation of basophils, with simultaneous analysis of CD63 appearance and median histamine content per cell, is the only technique capable to correctly document pholcodine allergy. The negative predictive value of basophil activation tests might help to elucidate on the controversial putative cross-reactivity between pholcodine and NMBA.
Department of Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology, University Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerpen, Belgium.
J
J
Leysen
L
L
De Witte
V
V
Sabato
M
M
Faber
M
M
Hagendorens
C
C
Bridts
L
L
De Clerck
D
D
Ebo
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000276:immunology; D009025:Morpholines / Q000276:immunology*; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D060149:Tetraspanin 30 / Q000032:analysis
D000700:Analgesics; D009025:Morpholines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D009020:Morphine; D006632:Histamine; C008872:pholcodine; D003061:Codeine