Diagnosis Of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Hypersensitivity Research Articles

Meloxicam and/or Etoricoxib Could Be Administered Safely in Two Equal Doses during an Open Oral Challenge in Patients with Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Hypersensitivity

Background: Hypersensitivity reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common. These patients require an effective and safe analgesic alternative. Objective: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the safety of meloxicam and etoricoxib administered by open oral challenge in 2 equal steps in patients with NSAID hypersensitivity. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of patients with a diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity who underwent an oral drug provocation test (DPT) with meloxicam or etoricoxib between January 2011 and August 2017 was conducted. The analysis was performed from a database in BD Clinic. Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight oral provocations were performed with an alternative NSAID (203 with meloxicam and 25 with etoricoxib) in 217 patients with hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. The median age was 38 years. Ninety-eight percent of meloxicam and 100% of etoricoxib DPTs were performed in 2 steps (without previous placebo), and 52% and 64% of meloxicam and etoricoxib DPTs, respectively, were performed with 50% of the therapeutic dose in each step. Tolerance to meloxicam was demonstrated in 192 patients (94.5%) and in 100% of patients receiving etoricoxib. Conclusions: Open oral provocation with meloxicam and etoricoxib carried out in 2 steps without placebo seems to be safe and implies less costs and less time expenditure. Also, it could be performed with 2 equal doses.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Hypersensitivity Reactions to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Children: A Report from the European Network on Drug Allergy (ENDA) Group

Diagnosis of hypersensitivity (HS) reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in children is complex. The real prevalence of NSAID HS remains unknown because a drug provocation test (DPT) is not always performed with the culprit NSAID. To describe and compare the diagnostic workup among different European centers and to find out the real proportion of NSAID HS by performing a DPT with the culprit drug. We retrospectively collected data from children (0-10 years) and adolescents (10-18 years) with a history of NSAID reactions and who underwent a complete allergy workup including DPTs with the culprit in 6 different pediatric centers: Belgrade, Florence, Geneva, Madrid, Porto, and Rome. A total of 693 children with a history of NSAID reactions were enrolled, and a total of 526 DPTs were performed with the culprit NSAID. The diagnosis of NSAID HS was confirmed in 19.6% (103 of 526) of children by performing a DPT with the culprit drug. The major differences in the allergy workup among the 6 centers concerned the duration of the DPT and the practical use of skin tests for diagnosing NSAID HS. In addition, the use of acetyl salicylic acid to differentiate single reactor or cross-intolerance patients is not common, except in Spain. The value of this study is that although different approaches are used around Europe to diagnose NSAID HS, we found that the percentage of confirmed NSAID HS is less than 20%. This highlights the importance of the DPT in confirming or excluding NSAID HS in the pediatric population.

Progress in understanding hypersensitivity reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the medications most commonly used for treating pain and inflammation, are the main triggers of drug hypersensitivity reactions. The latest classification of NSAIDs hypersensitivity by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) differentiates between cross-hypersensitivity reactions (CRs), associated with COX-1 inhibition, and selective reactions, associated with immunological mechanisms. Three phenotypes fill into the first group: NSAIDs-exacerbated respiratory disease, NSAIDs-exacerbated cutaneous disease and NSAIDs-induced urticaria/angioedema. Two phenotypes fill into the second one: single-NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema/anaphylaxis and single-NSAID-induced delayed reactions. Diagnosis of NSAIDs hypersensitivity is hampered by different factors, including the lack of validated in vitro biomarkers and the uselessness of skin tests. The advances achieved over recent years recommend a re-evaluation of the EAACI classification, as it does not consider other phenotypes such as blended reactions (coexistence of cutaneous and respiratory symptoms) or food-dependent NSAID-induced anaphylaxis. In addition, it does not regard the natural evolution of phenotypes and their potential interconversion, the development of tolerance over time or the role of atopy. Here, we address these topics. A state of the art on the underlying mechanisms and on the approaches for biomarkers discovery is also provided, including genetic studies and available information on transcriptomics and metabolomics.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity: association with elevated basal serum tryptase?

BackgroundIt is hypothesized that because of higher mast cell numbers and mediator release, mastocytosis predisposes patients for systemic immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to certain drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).ObjectiveTo clarify whether patients with NSAID hypersensitivity show increased basal serum tryptase levels as sign for underlying mast cell disease.MethodsAs part of our allergy work-up, basal serum tryptase levels were determined in all patients with a diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity and the severity of the reaction was graded. Patients with confirmed IgE-mediated hymenoptera venom allergy served as a comparison group.ResultsOut of 284 patients with NSAID hypersensitivity, 26 were identified with basal serum tryptase > 10.0 ng/mL (9.2%). In contrast, significantly (P = .004) more hymenoptera venom allergic patients had elevated tryptase > 10.0 ng/mL (83 out of 484; 17.1%). Basal tryptase > 20.0 ng/mL was indicative for severe anaphylaxis only in venom allergic subjects (29 patients; 4x grade 2 and 25x grade 3 anaphylaxis), but not in NSAID hypersensitive patients (6 patients; 4x grade 1, 2x grade 2).ConclusionsIn contrast to hymenoptera venom allergy, NSAID hypersensitivity do not seem to be associated with elevated basal serum tryptase levels and levels > 20 ng/mL were not related to increased severity of the clinical reaction. This suggests that mastocytosis patients may be treated with NSAID without special precautions.

Provocation tests with the offending nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with urticaria/angioedema reactions

The provocation test (PT) with the suspected drug represents the gold standard in the diagnosis of non-IgE hypersensitivity reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nevertheless, there is no consensus regarding the clinical management of suspected NSAID-sensitive patients. This study assessed if a PT with the suspected drug is a reliable and safe proceeding to confirm NSAID hypersensitivity in patients with a clinical history of urticaria/angioedema (Urt/AE). It also analyzed different patient characteristics (such as gender, age, atopy, dermographism, time interval between the last drug reaction, and number of previous NSAID reactions) in relation to PT positivity. One hundred fifty-nine patients with Urt/AE apparently related to assumption of one or more NSAIDs underwent PT with the suspected drugs. Moreover, to distinguish single/multiple NSAID reactivity in patients who did not tolerate the offending NSAID, another strong cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor PT was performed. PT was negative in 142/159 patients (89.31%), ruling out a diagnosis of NSAIDs hypersensitivity; 17/159 patients (10.69%) experienced a reaction of Urt/AE during the PT: 8 patients were diagnosed as single reactors to NSAIDs and 4 as multiple reactors to NSAIDs. Those with a history of multiple NSAID reactions and male patients were both more likely to have a positive PT. Our results suggest that in all patients with history of NSAID cutaneous reactions, the NSAID hypersensitivity should be confirmed by an oral PT and that the diagnostic proceeding can safely start with the offending NSAID.

Early Presentation With Angioedema and Urticaria in Cross-reactive Hypersensitivity to Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs Among Young, Asian, Atopic Children

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mainly ibuprofen, are used extensively among children as analgesic and antipyretic agents. Our initial survey in the Kendang Kerbau Children's Hospital in Singapore showed NSAIDs to be the second most common adverse drug reaction-causing medications among children of Asian descent. We attempted to characterize the clinical and epidemiologic profile of NSAID reactions in this group of patients. A retrospective case series from a hospital-based pediatric drug allergy clinic was studied. A diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity was made with a modified oral provocation test. Atopy was evaluated clinically and tested with a standard panel of skin-prick tests. We excluded from analysis patients with any unprovoked episodes of urticaria and/or angioedema, patients < 1 year of age, and patients who refused a diagnostic challenge test. Between March 1, 2003, and February 28, 2004, 24 patients, including 14 male patients (58%) and 18 Chinese patients (75%), with a mean age of 7.4 years (range: 1.4-14.4 years), were diagnosed as having cross-reactive NSAID hypersensitivity. A family history consistent with NSAID hypersensitivity was elicited for 17% of patients. None of the patients reported any episodes of angioedema/urticaria unrelated to NSAIDs. The median cumulative reaction-eliciting dose was 7.1 mg/kg. Facial angioedema developed for all patients (100%) and generalized urticaria for 38% of challenged patients, irrespective of age. There was no circulatory compromise, but respiratory symptoms of tachypnea, wheezing, and/or cough were documented for 42% of patients. A cross-reactive hypersensitivity response to acetaminophen was documented for 46% of our patients through their history and for 25% through diagnostic challenge. Compared with patients with suspected adverse drug reactions to antibiotics, patients in the NSAID group were older (7.4 vs 4.8 years) and more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma (odds ratio: 7.5; 95% confidence interval: 3.1-19). Early presentations of facial angioedema and urticaria are key features of dose- and potency-dependent, cross-reactive reactions to NSAIDs in a subpopulation of young, Asian, atopic children. Significant overlap with acetaminophen hypersensitivity, especially among very young patients, for whom the use of a cyclooxygenase-2-specific medication may not be feasible, severely limits options for medical antipyretic treatment.