DRUG EVENTS AND DRUG INDUCED HYPERSENSITIVITY

Abstract

Drug hypersensitivity reactions are one type of adverse drug reaction (ADR). ADR are common, but only 6 % to 10 % are immunologically mediated. Contrariwise most adverse drug reactions, drug hypersensitivity reactions are unpredictable. Whereas some drug-induced allergic reactions may be classified into one of the four Gell and Coombs hypersensitivity categories, modified by Pichler. Drug hypersensitivity reactions are responsible for only 17,6 % of all ADR and manifest themselves in many diseases, some of which are severe and life threatening.A drug provocation test (DPT) is the controlled administration of a drug in order to diagnose drug hypersensitivity reactions. DPTs are performed under medical surveillance, whether this drug is an alternative compound, or structurally/pharmacologically related, or the suspected drug itself. The cost of treatment of allergic patients always higher then not allergic. True diagnosis could economize dispenses in hospital and out patient centres.