Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions01:30

Drug 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...
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis01:20

Desensitization 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...
Hypersensitivities01:30

Hypersensitivities

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...
Allergic Drug Reactions01:27

Allergic 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...
Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis01:30

Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. When IgE binds to allergens, it triggers the release of mediators– histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins from mast cells and basophils. These mediators cause vasodilation, edema, and inflammation, leading to various symptoms.The primary allergens causing anaphylaxis include food items (e.g., peanuts, shellfish), drugs (e.g., penicillin, asparaginase, corticotropin, heparin),...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions01:29

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions

Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH), or Type IV hypersensitivity, is a cell-mediated immune response. It occurs when T cells, rather than antibodies, mediate a reaction to specific antigens. It is characterized by a delayed onset (1-2 days) and involves the recruitment of macrophages to the inflammation site.The initiation of a DTH response begins with the sensitization of T cells. During this phase, which lasts at least 1-2 weeks, antigen-specific T cells are activated, clonally expanded, and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Version 2.2026.

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN·2026
Same author

Respiratory Viruses, Self-Diagnosis, Early Treatment and Prophylaxis.

Viruses·2026
Same author

Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Use in Pregnancy.

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice·2026
Same author

Localization of mast cells in human brain tissue: Implications for neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19.

Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology·2026
Same author

Avapritinib achieves long-term disease control with favorable safety in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis over 3 years.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same author

Anaphylaxis events in the PIONEER study of avapritinib in indolent systemic mastocytosis.

The World Allergy Organization journal·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Humanized Mediator Release Assay as a Read-Out for Allergen Potency
10:22

Humanized Mediator Release Assay as a Read-Out for Allergen Potency

Published on: June 29, 2021

Desensitization for hypersensitivity reactions to medications.

Maria del Carmen Sancho1, Rebecca Breslow, David Sloane

  • 1Harvard Medical School, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Chemical Immunology and Allergy
|May 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) enables allergic patients to receive optimal medications safely. This technique minimizes hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, for better treatment outcomes.

More Related Videos

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
08:25

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Published on: September 26, 2022

Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity
10:22

Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity

Published on: September 16, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Humanized Mediator Release Assay as a Read-Out for Allergen Potency
10:22

Humanized Mediator Release Assay as a Read-Out for Allergen Potency

Published on: June 29, 2021

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
08:25

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Published on: September 26, 2022

Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity
10:22

Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity

Published on: September 16, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) impede optimal patient treatment.
  • Increased drug exposure and novel therapies raise the risk of drug sensitization.
  • Hypersensitive patients are often relegated to less effective secondary treatments due to severe ADRs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe Rapid Drug Desensitization (RDD) as a method to overcome drug allergies.
  • To explain the applicability of RDD for IgE and non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions.
  • To present the molecular mechanisms underlying RDD.

Main Methods:

  • A standardized 12-step protocol for RDD was applied to hundreds of desensitizations.
  • In vitro mouse mast cell model used to study the molecular basis of RDD.
  • Analysis of calcium influx and receptor internalization pathways.

Main Results:

  • RDD successfully enabled administration of chemotherapy, antibiotics, and biological agents.
  • RDD is an antigen-specific process.
  • RDD blocks acute and late mast cell mediator release without inducing subclinical mediator release.

Conclusions:

  • RDD is a safe and effective method for managing drug hypersensitivity reactions.
  • The molecular understanding of RDD supports its broad clinical application.
  • RDD allows patients to receive necessary, optimal first-line therapies despite allergies.