title: Allergy to local anesthetics: Reality or myth?
abstract: The incidence of allergic reactions to local anesthetics is low. Most cases involve a psychogenic reaction rather than an allergic reaction. Additives and preservatives added to local anesthetics may cause allergic reactions. Vascular resorption of epinephrine-containing local anesthetics may produce cardiovascular signs similar to an allergic reaction. Diagnosis of allergy to local anesthetics must be established by skin testing and provocative challenge.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Reims, pôle URAD, hôpital Maison-Blanche, service d'anesthésie-réanimation, 51092 Reims, France. Electronic address: jmmalinovsky@chu-reims.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Malinovsky
authors.affiliation: CHU de Montpellier, hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, division allergie, département de pneumologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Anca M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chiriac
authors.affiliation: Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, département d'anesthésie-réanimation, 67091 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tacquard
authors.affiliation: Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, département d'anesthésie-réanimation, 67091 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Paul Michel
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mertes
authors.affiliation: CHU de Montpellier, hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, division allergie, département de pneumologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demoly
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local