[The registry for severe allergic reactions in German-speaking countries. Recent data and perspectives]

The anaphylaxis registry collects data from patients with severe allergic reactions via an online questionnaire. Currently 85 centers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are involved. The data are entered by allergists. They cover demographical data, data of the elicitors, concomitant diseases, circumstances of the allergic reactions, and information about the treatment of affected patients. Until to date the data show that the elicitor profile of severe allergic reactions depends on the age of patients. In childhood, food allergens are the most frequent elicitors, whereas in adults insect stings are most frequently the cause of anaphylaxis. The analysis of concomitant diseases suggests that allergic diseases like allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis occur frequently in children with anaphylaxis, whereas in adults cardiovascular diseases predominate. The data about the medical treatment of affected patients show that antihistamines and corticosteroids are often used in German-speaking countries for the treatment of severe allergic reactions, whereas adrenaline, the drug of choice, is only rarely used (< 20%). The registry is an important clinical epidemiological tool which allows to generate research but also disease management-related questions.