A Karger 'Publishing Highlights 1890–2015' title Drug hypersensitivities are immune-mediated reactions characterized by exanthems, fever and internal organ involvement. They represent a challenging field of research: many different drugs can induce a variety of clinical symptoms through multiple mechanisms of drug-host interaction, many of which are poorly understood. This is the first book to approach the phenomenon of drug hypersensitivity in a comprehensive manner. Besides epidemiological aspects, it addresses the immunological mechanisms underlying these complicated reactions which go far beyond the IgE-mediated drug allergies also considered in the book. Furthermore, the book covers clinical manifestations and new diagnostic methods, and introduces some recently established animal models. Well-accepted and also completely new concepts are presented and discussed in detail. Many topics are treated from multiple perspectives, and the 33 chapters are thoroughly cross-referenced. This publication will be of immense value not only to allergologists, dermatologists and anyone prescribing medication, but also to scientists in a pharmaceutical industry challenged by the economic effects of failures in drug development or drug removal from the market. Elucidating the mechanisms of drug hypersensitivity will not only help to identify patients at risk but will also provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of numerous immune-mediated diseases.
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.
