2 - 17: Epidemiology and Causes of Drug Hypersensitivity
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Published:2007
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Subject Area: Dermatology , Further Areas , General Medicine , Immunology and Allergy , Nephrology , Pharmacology
Pascal Demoly, Marinella Viola, Eva Rebelo Gomes, Antonino Romano, 2007. "Epidemiology and Causes of Drug Hypersensitivity", Drug Hypersensitivity, W.J. Pichler
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Abstract
Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are the adverse effectsof drugs, taken at a dose which is tolerated by normalsubjects, which clinically resemble allergy. There are fewtrue epidemiological data on DHRs. The available informationrequires a cautious interpretation because the pathogenicmechanism has not been demonstrated by diagnostictests. Both under- and over-diagnosis must be taken intoaccount. DHRs may represent up to one third of adversedrug reactions, be life-threatening, require or prolong hospitalization,and entail changes in drug prescription. Theyconcern more than 7% of the general population, andtherefore are an important public health problem. A few riskfactors have been pinpointed. Future progress in genetics,as well as well-designed epidemiological studies on hypersensitivitydrug reactions, will be helpful in identifying patientsat risk of developing such reactions, in particular severeones, and in implementing early preventive measures.This review describes current data on the incidence, prevalence,mortality, and risk factors of these reactions.