Iatrogenic pseudoanaphylaxis

A nurse exposed accidentally to chymopapain by ocular exposure was treated vigorously for chymopapain anaphylaxis. Retrospective analysis of the case indicates that there was no evidence of IgE antibody against chymopapain, and the clinical events were inconsistent with anaphylaxis and could be explained by a vasovagal reaction and the cardiorespiratory effects of repeated intravenous epinephrine. Our assessment is that the nurse is currently in a state of good health; however, she did not accept our absence of allergic disease diagnosis and has sought "clinical ecology therapy." Although no litigation in this case has arisen, the legal implications of this case report are reviewed.