Executive summary of disease management of drug hypersensitivity: a practice parameter. Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Abstract

Adverse drug reactions are a major health problem in the United States. About 25% of all adverse drug reactions have an allergic, pseudoallergic, or idiosyncratic/intolerant basis. Idiosyncratic drug reactions and drug intolerance are also included in this category. Drug allergy may be classified by the Gell and Coombs classification of human hypersensitivity (Type 1: IgE-mediated; Type 2: cytotoxic; Type 3: immune complex; and Type 4: cellular immune mediated). Drug allergy is also frequently characterized by the predominant tissue/organ involved (systemic, cutaneous, or visceral). To some extent, the structural characteristics of drugs and biologic products predict the type of hypersensitivity reaction.