Penicillins allergy patients sera

Qiao, H.L., Yang, J., and Zhang, Y.W., Serum specific IgE levels and FceRip genetic polymorphism in patients with penicillin allergy, Allergy, 59, 1326, 2004. 

Some types of allergic reaction, for example immediate or delayed-type skin allergies, serum-sickness-like reactions and anaphylactic reactions, may occur in a proportion of patients given penicillin treatment. There is some, but not complete, cross-allergy with cephalosporins. 

HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS Hypersensitivity reactions complicate 0.7 % of all treatment courses rash, urticaria, fever, bronchospasm, vasculitis, serum sickness, exfoliative dermatitis, and anaphylaxis. Allergy to one penicillin increases the risk of reaction if another penicillin is given. Hypersensitivity reactions may appear in the absence of previous known exposure to the drug. In some cases, the reaction is mild and disappears even when the penicittin is continued in others, immediate cessation of penicillin is required. In a few instances, it is necessary to interdict the future use of penicillin because of the risk of death, and the patient should be so warned. 

Robinson OPW (1968) Comparative cutaneous sensitivity studies in man with benzyl-penicillin and its purified counterpart. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 7 550 Rose NR, Reisman RE, Witebsky E, Arbesman CE (1962) Serum sickness III. Characterization of antigens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 33 250 Rose NR, Giard JP, Kunz ML (1966) Tissue culture of lymphocytes from allergic patients. J Allergy 37 112... 

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