[DRUG RELATED SYSTEMIC ANAPHYLAXES AND ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK]

Abstract

Anaphylactic shock is a systemic immediate hypersensitivity reaction involving 2 or more organs. Symptoms occur in the minutes after the administration of a drug, a food or after hymenoptera sting and are the consequence of the activation of tissue mast cells and blood basophils which release histamine and other inflammatory mediatars. This chapter, written by allergo-anesthesists, concerns mostly, but not exclusively, per-anesthetic anaphylaxis, its diagnosis, prevention and treatment.