NSAIDs Hypersensitivity: When and How to Desensitize?

Patient characterization and predictors of aspirin desensitization response

Background

Hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may limit the use of aspirin in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Aspirin desensitization, which is a resource-intensive process, can offer such patients access to aspirin through the induction of temporary tolerance to aspirin. However, there is limited information on aspirin desensitization response in patients undergoing aspirin desensitization for cardiac indications in Asia.

Objective

To characterize patients who have undergone aspirin desensitization, evaluate their responses to the procedure, and identify risk factor(s) associated with failure of aspirin desensitization.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients who underwent aspirin desensitization in Singapore General Hospital between 1 June 2014 and 31 October 2017. Chi-square or Fisher exact test were used to analyze categorical data while independent samples t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for continuous data where appropriate. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of aspirin desensitization failure.

Results

All 214 patients in our study had cardiovascular indications for aspirin, with angioedema being the most common type of index reaction experienced with NSAIDs (n = 104, 48.6%). One hundred sixty-five patients (77.1%) achieved successful aspirin desensitization. In the selected sample analysis of patients with true NSAID hypersensitivity (n = 163), an index reaction of angioedema to NSAIDs was found to be significantly associated with a higher risk of failing aspirin desensitization (odds ratio, 7.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.94–26.71).

Conclusion

Majority of the patients who underwent aspirin desensitization in our institution were able to achieve tolerance to aspirin. An index reaction of angioedema to NSAIDs was identified as a risk factor for aspirin desensitization failure. This information can aid in the risk stratification of patients undergoing aspirin desensitization and ensure efficient resource allocation for this procedure.

Refractory Angina-Unsolved Problem

The article discusses pharmacologic and interventional therapeutic options for patients with refractory angina. Refractory angina refers to long-lasting symptoms (≥3 months) due to established reversible ischemia in the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease, which cannot be controlled by escalating medical therapy with second-line and third-line pharmacologic agents, bypass grafting, or stenting. Due to an aging population, increased number of comorbidities, and advances in coronary artery disease treatment, incidence of refractory angina is growing. Although the number of therapeutic options is increasing, there is a lack of randomized clinical trials that could help create recommendations for this group of patients.

Clinical Trials of Aspirin Treatment After Desensitization in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

The clinical efficacy of aspirin treatment after desensitization in patients with respiratory disease exacerbated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been documented in observational studies and in double-blind placebo-controlled trials. There is no general agreement with regard to the optimal maintenance dose or duration of treatment with acetylsalicylic acid after desensitization, thus further studies are necessary to offer clear guidelines to clinicians. This article summarizes data from noncontrolled, active-control, and placebo-controlled trials assessing clinical effectiveness and reporting on safety of treatment with acetylsalicylic acid in desensitized patients with respiratory disease exacerbated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.