Pediatric drug hypersensitivity: which diagnostic tests?

Pediatric drug hypersensitivity: which diagnostic tests?

Authors

  • Francesca Saretta Pediatric Department, AAS2 Bassa Friulana-Isontina, Palmanova-Latisana, Italy; Pediatric Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Udine, Italy
  • Francesca Mori Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
  • Fabio Cardinale UOC di Pediatria, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria “Consorziale-Policlinico”, Ospedale Pediatrico Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy
  • Lucia Liotti Department of Pediatrics, Senigallia Hospital, Senigallia, Italy
  • Fabrizio Franceschini UOC Pediatria, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, Ancona, Italy
  • Giuseppe Crisafulli UO Allergologia, Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università di Messina, Italy
  • Silvia Caimmi Pediatric Clinic, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • Paolo Bottau Pediatric and Neonatology Unit, Imola Hospital, Imola (BO), Italy
  • Roberto Bernardini Pediatric Unit, “San Giuseppe” Hospital, Empoli, Italy
  • Carlo Caffarelli Clinica Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Università di Parma, Italy

Keywords:

drug hypersensitivity reactions, children, skin test, specific IgE, basophil activation test, drug provocation test

Abstract

Along with the anamnesis and clinical evaluation, diagnostic tests are one of the mainstream key points in the evaluation and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR). A wide knowledge gap, both in diagnosis and management of pediatric DHR, must be filled.  Only a few published studies evaluated sensitivity and specificity of skin and in vitro tests in children. However, selected case series show that diagnostic work-up for adults could be useful, with some limitations, in pediatric age. Indeed, despite improvement in in vivo and in vitro diagnosis, drug provocation test remains the gold standard in pediatric age, too. Unmet needs in children include multi-centric studies on incidence of DHR, utility and feasibility of in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests and specifically dedicated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of DHR in children.

Downloads

Published

30-01-2019

How to Cite

1.
Saretta F, Mori F, Cardinale F, et al. Pediatric drug hypersensitivity: which diagnostic tests?. Acta Biomed. 2019;90(3-S):94-107. doi:10.23750/abm.v90i3-S.8171