title: Natural evolution of skin-test sensitivity in patients with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to cephalosporins.
abstract: There are studies demonstrating that skin-test sensitivity to penicillins can decrease over time and that allergic patients may lose sensitivity if the responsible compounds are avoided. With regard to subjects with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to cephalosporins, however, such studies are lacking. We evaluated prospectively in a 5-year follow-up 72 cephalosporin-allergic patients. After the first evaluation, patients were classified into two groups according to their patterns of allergologic-test positivity: to both penicillins and cephalosporins (group A), or only to cephalosporins (group B). Skin tests and serum-specific IgE assays were repeated 1 year later and, in case of persistent positivity, 3 and 5 years after the first allergologic examination. Seven (43.7%) of the 16 subjects of group A and 38 (67.8%) of the 56 patients of group B became negative; one was lost to follow-up. Patients of group B became negative sooner and more frequently than group A subjects.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Complesso Integrato Columbus, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Oasi Maria S.S., Troina, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Valluzzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaffiro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quaratino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins
keywords: cephalosporin allergy; follow-up; skin tests