Risk factors, clinical presentations, and common culprits in drug allergies: a case-control study from Türkiye

Drug hypersensitivity reactions pose a considerable clinical challenge due to their unpredictable nature and potential severity.

To determine the risk factors linked to drug allergies.

This case-control study examined patients with drug allergies. Analysed parameters included age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), atopy history, family history of drug allergies, frequent antibiotic use, and the presence of kidney disease, liver disease, asthma, nasal polyps, or chronic urticaria. Additional data for the study group included the relationship between reactions and viral infections, presence of urticaria/angioedema or anaphylaxis, implicated drug groups, reactions to multiple drug groups, and routes of drug administration.

The study included 136 patients in the study group and 87 controls. The study group was significantly older (p = 0.010), with no significant sex difference (p = 0.079). The study group had higher mean BMI (p = 0.043). Atopy history, kidney disease, asthma, and chronic urticaria were significantly more common in the control group. In the study group, 69.40% experienced urticaria/angioedema, 30.60% had anaphylaxis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (61.76%) and antibiotics (41.91%) were the most common triggers, with penicillins (20.59%) and cephalosporins (11.76%) being the most common antibiotics. The oral route was the most frequent mode of administration leading to allergies (88.24%), followed by intravenous route (8.09%).

Our study revealed that higher age and BMI are associated with drug allergies, with NSAIDs and antibiotics, particularly penicillin, being the most common triggers, and oral administration as the predominant route of administration.