Penicillin Allergy Diagnostics by Specific IgE Study | Chapter 4 | Medical Science: Trends and Innovations Vol. 5

Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the allergic similarities between different penicillin forms and cefaclor.

Study Design:  Retrospective Laboratory Registry Data Analysis.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory Registry Data obtained from the Central Laboratory of the Kuopio University Hospital District with a population of 251,000. Data collection between Jan 2010 and Aug 2021.

Methodology: List of specific IgE analyses for phenoxymethylpenicillin, benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and cefaclor with total serum IgE.

Results: Penicillin forms of phenoxymethylpenicillin, benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and cefaclor did not share the same antigenic determinants. Only 14 cases of formally positive specific IgE results were detected but setting the cut-off limit of specific IgE to 0.8 kU/L, then the number of positively-interpreted allergies dropped to 5 cases.

Conclusion: We suggest that in case of suspicion of penicillin allergy, specific IgE analyses for phenoxymethylpenicillin, benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin and cefaclor with total serum IgE be performed for a better estimation of specific penicillin allergy. Previously recommended penicillin allergy testing by oral 250 mg amoxicillin is not a fully diagnostic test. Real IgE-mediated penicillin allergy is very rare.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Rauno J. Harvima
Departments of Dermatology, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

 

Ilkka T. Harvima
Departments of Dermatology, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msti/v5/4221