[Severe anaphylactoid reactions after intravenous corticosteroids. Report of a case and review of the literature]

Abstract

We report a case of fatal anaphylactic reaction to intravenous methylprednisolone succinate therapy developed in a 51 year old asthmatic man with aspirin intolerance and undetermined myocarditis. 14 similar cases were found in literature and analysed: asthma and aspirin intolerance seem to be risk factors; the organism reacts against either unconjugated corticoid or esterified corticoid principally its succinate salt; the mechanism of these reactions remains not clear; it may be either a true allergic reaction or a non specific reaction.