12.4B: Allergic Responses to Drugs
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Learning Objectives
- Explain the physiology of an immune response responsible for an allergic reaction to drugs
Virtually any substance, when exposed internally or externally to the body, can act as an allergen and illicit an immune system response, such is the case with antimicrobial drugs. While the drug acts as an allergen, the drug itself is not causing direct damage to the individual, but rather it is the response of an individual’s immune system which is deleterious. An allergic reaction is the body’s response to clear a foreign substance. Once the body recognizes a substance as foreign (in this case an antimicrobial drug), it starts producing antibodies, specifically immunoglobulin E (IgE) against the drug. The IgE binds directly to the drug and sets off a cascade of events, including the activation of receptors on immune system cells. This results in the production of histamines. The worst allergic reactions can be very severe and result in anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is an extremely severe allergic reaction caused when histamines are overproduced leading to severe contraction of bronchial muscles. In the most extreme cases, the airways close, which can lead to death. Other less severe symptoms of an allergic reaction can include, hives, angioedema (tissue swelling under the skin, often on the face), tight throat, coughing, wheezing, or watery eyes.
The exposure to a drug may not elicit an allergic reaction during the first exposure, but after the first exposure, the body creates antibodies and memory lymphocyte cells against the drug, therefore later exposures to the drug will illicit an immune response. There are many factors that can determine if an individual is sensitive to an antimicrobial drug, as with other allergens. Some factors include genetics and past exposures to other allergens, typically a person who has allergies to other things, such as various foods, is more prone to have or develop drug allergies. The most reported drug allergy is to Beta-lactam antibiotics, of which penicillin is the most well-known type, affecting 1-5% of people who take penicillin. While the most severe cases can result in anaphylaxis, most reactions are not severe. Additionally the allergic reaction may not even be due to the penicillin, as dyes and other chemicals added to antimicrobial drugs may in fact cause the allergic response instead. Taken together, recent studies show that perhaps only 1/5 people who suspect they have an allergy to penicillin do indeed have such an allergy.
Key Points
- Antimicrobial drugs, can like almost any other substance, act as an allergen.
- Using a drug may not induce an allergic response the first time it is taken, however, subsequent use of the antimicrobial drugs may lead to allergic reactions.
- The most common antimicrobial drug allergy is penicillin. 1-5% of people who have taken it have suspected penicillin allergies.
Key Terms
- allergen : A substance, known as an antigen, which stimulates an immune response from a sensitive individual.
- anaphylaxis : A rapid and severe allergic reaction which can lead to death
- Beta-lactam antibiotics : A broad class of antibiotics of which penicillin is a member.