The Contradiction of Drug Allergy in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and
Review of the Literature
Abstract
Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is reported to be a risk factor for
drug hypersensitivity. However, there is conflicting data about true
prevalence of drug allergy in children with CF. Methods: The suspicious
drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) of children with CF were enquired
by European Network for Drug Allergy (ENDA) questionnaire and skin tests
and/or drug provocation tests were performed according to established
guidelines. Results: Two hundred and nineteen children (48.9% boys;
median [IQR] age, 8.4 years [4.8-12.4 years]) with cystic
fibrosis were included in the study, from whom 22 patients with 24
suspected DHRs were evaluated. Most of the suspected DHRs were
non-immediate (n=16, 66.6%) type and the offending drugs were
amoxicillin clavulanic acid (n=7), macrolides (n=4), trimethoprim
sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (n=2), piperacillin tazobactam (n=1),
pancrelipase (n=1) and ursodeoxycholic acid (n=1). Eight (33.3%) of the
DHRs were classified as immediate [ceftriaxone (n=2), ceftazidim
(n=2), meropenem (n=1), ambisome (n=2), vancomycin (n=1)]. The main
presenting clinical presentations were maculopapular eruption (41.6%)
and urticaria (37.5%), accompanied by angioedema (8.3%), flushing
(12.5%) and vomiting (8.3%). Nine skin tests (with beta-lactam
protocol in 6 patients) and 24 DPTs were performed and none of the skin
tests revealed a positive result, however 2 DPTs with TMP/SMX were
positive. Conclusion: Actual drug allergy was demonstrated in 2 of 219
patients (0.9%) with nonbeta-lactam antibiotics. These results conflict
with previous researches that showed higher drug allergy rates but were
consistent with some recent studies. Numerous and long-term use of
multiple drugs during management of cystic fibrosis may contribute to
tolerance development.