Drug-induced anaphylaxis in the emergency department: A prospective observational study

Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It is usually triggered by drugs, foods, and insect stings. The primary objective of our study is to determine the factors affecting drug-induced anaphylaxis to contribute to early diagnosis and treatment in these patients.

Patients over 18 years old who were diagnosed drug-induced anaphylaxis in the Goztepe Hospital within a period of 1 year were evaluated prospectively. Patients demographical data, etiological factors, clinical findings, and treatment information were recorded.

Forty-four patients were enrolled in the study of which 25 (56.8%) were female. The median age of women and men was 54 (min: 22, max 82) and 44 (min 18, max 82), respectively. Twenty-three (52%) of them had a history of anaphylaxis. The most common causes of drug-induced anaphylaxis were antibiotics (36%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (18%), respectively. Adrenaline was applied to 17 (38%) of the patients in the treatment.

Antibiotics were the most common drugs causing drug-induced anaphylaxis and adrenaline was underused which is the first-line treatment in the anaphylaxis. Some clinicians refrain from administering adrenaline. The reasons underlying this approach should be investigated.