[Acetylsalicylic acid and pyrazole allergy or pseudo-allergy?]

In a multicentric study by the European Study Group of Drug Allergy, 69 patients suffering from immediate type reaction after the intake of non-steroidal antiphlogistica were examined with regard to allergy or pseudo-allergy. Apart from the scratch test on the original substance, we performed cutaneous tests with salicyloyl and pyrazol conjugates, and determined IgE and IgG by means of a modified RAST method. There were 3 groups to be distinguished: (1) "intolerance" reaction of the aspirin type as a pseudo-allergic reaction (15 cases); (2) true IgE-mediated allergy (16 cases); (3) pyrazol "idiosyncrasy" (33 cases). 5 patients showed a combination of the three pathomechanisms.