Anaphylaxis definition, overview, and clinical support tool: 2024 consensus report-a GA²LEN project.

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Clinical Medicine
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Current anaphylaxis criteria (NIAID/FAAN 2006) are widely used but inconsistently adopted globally.
• The World Allergy Organization proposed modified criteria in 2020, leading to variations in clinical practice and research.
• Discrepancies in diagnostic criteria hinder standardized anaphylaxis management and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a unified definition and clinical overview for anaphylaxis.
• To develop a comprehensive clinical support tool for anaphylaxis management.
• To achieve consensus on anaphylaxis recognition and treatment guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A 12-member writing group developed initial drafts.
• Input was gathered from an international expert panel (46 members), 31 medical organizations, and 15 patient advocacy groups.
• A modified Delphi process with an 80% consensus threshold was employed for refinement.

Main Results:

• A consensus definition was established: "Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction that can progress rapidly and may cause death."
• An overview detailing recognition and management, and a clinical support tool with new criteria, epinephrine guidance, and organ system findings were developed.
• High expert agreement was achieved: 93.5% for the definition, 97.8% for the overview, and 93.5% for the clinical support tool.

Conclusions:

• The developed anaphylaxis overview serves as a novel educational resource.
• The proposed definition and clinical support tool are recommended to supersede prior criteria.
• These tools are expected to enhance anaphylaxis recognition, management, and standardize research outcomes.