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Urticarial intolerance reaction to cetirizine
S Schröter1, B Damveld, W C Marsch
1Department of Dermatology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany. kromayer@t-online.de
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|June 20, 2002
Summary
A patient experienced severe chronic idiopathic urticaria after taking cetirizine, indicating a likely intolerance reaction. Allergy testing confirmed this, though a rare hypersensitivity reaction to cetirizine is also possible.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a common condition often managed with antihistamines.
- Cetirizine is a widely used second-generation H1 antihistamine for allergic conditions.
Observation:
- A 36-year-old woman presented with acute exacerbation of CIU, including pruritus, facial edema, and dyspnea, 3-4 hours after a single oral dose of 10 mg cetirizine.
- The reaction suggested an underlying intolerance rather than a typical allergic response.
Findings:
- Detailed allergy testing supported an intolerance reaction to cetirizine.
- This is the third reported case of generalized urticaria following cetirizine administration, likely non-allergic.
- However, the study also verified cetirizine-specific IgE antibodies in control sera, indicating type I hypersensitivity to cetirizine is possible.
Implications:
- The findings highlight the importance of considering drug intolerance, even with widely used medications like cetirizine.
- Further investigation is warranted to differentiate between intolerance and rare hypersensitivity reactions to cetirizine.
- This case contributes to understanding adverse reactions to antihistamines in patients with chronic urticaria.