Increased rates of drug allergy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients compared to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and normal controls

Abstract

Background and Aims: Drug allergy (rash, angioedema, anaphylactic, anaphylactoid reactions) is a frequently encountered clinical problem, and published reports suggest that it is present in up to 20% of hospitalized patients. The rate of drug allergy among patients with 1BD (Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC)) has not been previously described. We hypothesized that adult patients with chronic gut inflammation would have increased rates of drug allergy compared to controls. Methods: Retrospective observational analysis was performed on all 1BD patients followed at a tertiary referral center. All intake visits were reviewed for histories of drug allergy, defined as emergence of rash, angnoedema, anaphytactic/ anaphylactoid reaction following challenge with the offending agent. Demographic information regarding patients as well as classes of agents inducing allergic reactions were recorded, as was the duration of the IBD. Controls included patients with irritable bowel syndrome as well as healthy volunteers without clinical evidence of gastrointestinal disease. Results: Records of 410 IBD patients (297 CD, 107 UC, 6 indeterminate colitis) were reviewed, as weft as 230 control patients (IBS 50, normal 180). 33.2% of IBD patients and 19% of controls demonstrated drug allergy ( p = < 0.001 Chi-square). There was no difference between the prevalence of drug allergy between CD and UC patients. The duration of disease did not impact on the prevalence of drug allergy. There were significantly more female IBD patients with drug allergy when compared to males (36% vs. 25%; p = < 0 . 0 3 ) which corresponded with an increased rate of drug allergy noted in the female control population. The classes of drugs associated with allergic reactions in IBD patients included penicillin (13.9%), sulfa (8.3%), narcotics (7.1%). The prevalence of antibiotic allergy in the IBD patients was 22% compared with 11% of controls (p = <O.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of drag allergy is significantly higher in patients with IBD compared to patients with IBS or healthy volunteers. Female IBD patients have a higher prevalence of allergic reactions compared to males, but there is no difference in the prevalence of the reactions between UC and CD Drug allergnc IBD patients are a commonly encountered phenotype which pose added clinical challenges in management.