Sulfonamide hypersensitivity

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2004 Aug;24(3):477-90, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2004.03.011.

Abstract

Sulfonamide antibiotics can result in a wide variety of hypersensitivity reactions. No validated diagnostic tests are available for sulfonamide reactions; therefore, clinicians must rely on the combination of a careful patient history, review of medical records, and a sound knowledge base regarding the common clinical manifestations of sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions. Although HIV-infected individuals have a high risk for hypersensitivity reactions to sulfamethoxazole, readministering the drug can usually be performed safely by using a desensitization protocol. Sulfonamide-containing medications that are not antibiotics also have the capacity for causing hypersensitivity reactions. Whether the sulfa moiety confers a risk of cross-reaction is controversial. The preponderance of available evidence suggests that sulfonamide antibiotics probably do not cross-react with sulfonamide nonantibiotics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cross Reactions
  • Desensitization, Immunologic
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / physiopathology*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / therapy
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • Humans
  • Sulfonamides / adverse effects*
  • Sulfonamides / immunology*
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Sulfonamides