Hypersensitivity reactions to contrast media (CM) are frequent causes of anaphylaxis and drug exanthemas. Adverse events after CM exposure are classified into immediate (≤1 h) and non-immediate reactions (>1 h), with differing mechanisms. In the majority of patients with immediate reactions, IgE-mediated allergy cannot be demonstrated, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. However, rece...

Drug allergy to antibiotics may occur in the form of immediate or non-immediate (delayed) hypersensitivity reactions. Immediate reactions are usually IgE-mediated whereas non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions are usually non-IgE or T-cell mediated. The clinical manifestations of antibiotic allergy may be cutaneous, organ-specific (e.g., blood dyscracias, hepatitis, interstitial nephritis), s...

We report 8 infants with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to foods (milk, egg, or peanut), occurring at the first-known exposure. Each developed symptoms within the first hour, but these generally settled within 2 hours. Sensitisation to the food concerned was demonstrated by positive immediate allergen skin prick tests in every case. Symptoms experienced included irritability, erythematous...

The allergic response is distinct from other immune reactions in its reliance on IgE, its high affinity receptor, Fc epsilon RI, and the primary effector cell--the tissue mast cell. Positive skin tests or raised concentrations of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the serum define IgE sensitisation or "atopy". IgE participates both in immediate hypersensitivity response and in the induction of ...

BACKGROUND There is concern that shrimp-allergic individuals may react to glucosamine-containing products as shrimp shells are a major source of glucosamine used for human consumption. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether shrimp-allergic individuals can tolerate therapeutic doses of glucosamine. METHODS Subjects with a history of shrimp allergy were recruited and tes...

OBJECTIVE Skin testing with penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL) and a minor determinant mixture (MDM) were previously recommended for evaluating β-lactam hypersensitivity. However, PPL and MDM have not been commercially available. This study was to determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of skin testing with β-lactam antibiotics for the diagnosis of β-lactam hypersensitivity. METHOD Patients a...