Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
12:08
Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs
Published on: June 21, 2018
[Does hypersensitivity to multiple drugs really exist?]
M Studer1, J Waton, A-C Bursztejn
1Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital de Brabois, CHU de Nancy, Bâtiment Philippe-Canton, 6, Rue du Morvan, 54511 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France. m.studer@chu-nancy.fr
Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|May 15, 2012
Summary
Multiple-drug hypersensitivity (MDH) is rare, affecting 0.6% of patients with cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR). Further research into genetic predisposition is warranted for these polysensitized individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
Context:
- Multiple-drug hypersensitivity (MDH) is inconsistently defined in medical literature.
- Patients referred for cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR) are a key population for studying drug hypersensitivity.
- Understanding MDH is crucial for accurate diagnosis and patient management.
Purpose:
- To define the frequency and characteristics of MDH.
- To identify patients with confirmed sensitization to at least two unrelated drugs.
- To lay the groundwork for investigating genetic predispositions in MDH.
Summary:
- A study of 1925 patients with CADR identified 11 (0.6%) cases of MDH based on strict criteria.
- The identified MDH cases involved sensitization to chemically unrelated substances, confirmed by skin or challenge tests.
- Four cases of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) were noted among the polysensitized patients.
Impact:
- This study affirms the existence of MDH but highlights its rarity.
- It proposes a classification of MDH into three distinct clinical presentations.
- The findings suggest investigating cytokine polymorphism for genetic predisposition in MDH patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial exposure to a...
01:27Allergic Drug Reactions
Allergic reactions related to drugs are hypersensitivity responses driven by the immune system and bear no connection to the drug's therapeutic action. While drugs in isolation do not trigger an immune response, they can interact with endogenous proteins to form antigens. These antigens stimulate lymphocytes to produce antibodies. IgE-type antibodies attach themselves to mast cells. Upon subsequent exposure to the same stimulus, the antigen-antibody interaction is initiated, unleashing numerous...
01:16Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...
01:30Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity, also known as a hypersensitivity reaction or allergic reaction, is a condition where the body's immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. Such substances, that cause hypersensitivity are referred to as an allergen, could be something typically harmless to most people, like pollen or certain foods.
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
01:20Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
Several...
Several...
01:30Drug toxicity: Drug–Drug Interaction
Drug–drug interactions can precipitate toxicity through multiple mechanisms. Absorption interactions alter how drugs enter the body, exemplified when ranitidine increases the absorption of basic drugs, while cholestyramine decreases the levels of propranolol. Protein binding interactions occur when drugs share the same binding sites on plasma proteins. Drugs like aspirin and warfarin, when bound in excess, can lead to increased free drug concentrations, enhancing the potential for...