Fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis: The Allergy-Vigilance® Network data (2002-2020)

Having a better understanding of the risk factors of severe anaphylaxis is a crucial challenge for physicians.

To retrospectively analyse fatal/near-fatal anaphylaxis cases recorded by the Allergy-Vigilance® Network (2002-2020) and evaluate the characteristics associated with survival, age and allergens.

Among the 3510 anaphylaxis cases documented in the network, 70 (2%) patients (males: 57%; mean age: 35.4 y) presented grade 4 (Ring-Messmer) anaphylaxis and 25 died (19 food-related); 33% had a history of asthma. The main allergens were food (60%; peanut, 20%; milks, 11%) involved in 25/26 cases in children and in 17/44 (39%) cases in adults. Non-food anaphylaxis was related to drugs/latex (24%; neuromuscular blocking agents, 10%; betalactamins, 6%), Hymenoptera (16%). Three food-related cases (one death) occurred during oral food challenge in children. Patients with a food allergy were younger (22.2 years vs. 55 years, p < .001), had more likely a history of asthma (50% vs. 7%; p < .001), a pre-existing allergy (62% vs. 18%; p < .001) compared with other allergies. A cofactor was identified in 35 cases (50%) but predominantly in adults as opposed to children (64% vs. 27%; p = .01). The patients who died were younger (25.6 vs. 40.8 years; p = .01) than the survivors and mostly presented bronchospasm (56% vs. 29%; p = .05). Gaps in the prevention and management of anaphylaxis were noted in 15 cases (21%).

Severe food anaphylaxis has specific features compared with other causes such as young age, asthma history and exercise. Food is also involved in severe anaphylaxis in adults that should not be underestimated.