Urticaria due to mepivacaine with tolerance to lidocaine and bupivacaine

The Eyes Have It: Eyelid Swelling and Rash in a 79-year-old Woman With Macular Degeneration

Introduction

A 79-year-old woman with macular degeneration was referred to the Allergy/Immunology clinic for the evaluation of a potential allergy to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatments. The patient developed urticaria and eyelid swelling immediately following a retinal injection of aflibercept, which she had previously tolerated. She previously had allergic reactions following ranibizumab and bevacizumab injections. Injections of anti-VEGF treatments were discontinued given concern for allergy with progression of the patient’s disease.

Objective

To assess the culprit medication(s) responsible for hypersensitivity reactions following anti-VEGF injections for macular degeneration.

Methods

Medication records were reviewed for each retinal injection. All medications used in each procedure, including the anti-VEGF therapy (aflibercept), topical anesthetics (tetracaine and proparacaine hydrochloride), and antiseptic (povidine), were evaluated with skin testing. She was additionally tested for alternative anti-VEGF therapies (ranibizumab and bevacizumab) as she was thought to have allergies to these agents by prior history. A test dose challenge was completed for aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab.

Results

Skin prick and intradermal testing were negative to aflibercept, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and povidine. Intradermal testing was positive to tetracaine and proparacaine hydrochloride. The patient passed test dose challenges to aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab. Due to her positive hypersensitivity testing to 2 ester anesthetics, the patient underwent skin prick and intradermal testing to the amide anesthetic, lidocaine. This was negative and the patient tolerated a graded challenge to lidocaine. She was deemed to have an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to ester-type local anesthetics. She successfully resumed anti-VEGF therapy with an amide local anesthetic.

Conclusions

The reason for this consult was the concern for hypersensitivity to a biologic anti-VEGF medication. The culprit allergen, the local anesthetic, could have been overlooked without an assessment of all medications used during the procedure. This case highlights the importance of a thorough allergy evaluation of all medications used during procedures to determine the causative agent.

Chief Complaint: Eyelid swelling and rash after ophthalmic procedures for macular degeneration.

Investigation and diagnosis of an immediate allergy to amide local anaesthetic in a paediatric dental patient

Local anaesthetics remain the most common prescription medication utilized in dental practise. Adverse reactions following administration of local anaesthetic are somewhat common and are frequently reported as 'allergies'. However, of these events, it is estimated that only 1% are confirmed allergies to the local anaesthetic. This case report presents the process of referral for investigation and testing to confirm an amide local anaesthetic allergy in a paediatric patient. Testing for a safe alternative was also completed to identify local anaesthetic agents also of the amide variety that could be utilized safely on this individual. Following skin testing of alternative agents, intraoral challenges were completed. Finally, restorative dental treatment was provided safely for the patient with the use of an alternative amide local anaesthetic on a number of occasions with no further adverse outcomes.

Drug allergy: an updated practice parameter

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) result in major health problems in the United States in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. ADRs are broadly categorized into predictable (type A and unpredictable (type B) reactions. Predictable reactions are usually dose dependent, are related to the known pharmacologic actions of the drug, and occur in otherwise healthy individuals, They are estimated to comprise approximately 80% of all ADRs. Unpredictable are generally dose independent, are unrelated to the pharmacologic actions of the drug, and occur only in susceptible individuals. Unpredictable reactions are subdivided into drug intolerance, drug idiosyncrasy, drug allergy, and pseudoallergic reactions. Both type A and B reactions may be influenced by genetic predisposition of the patient

Hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics--update and proposal of evaluation algorithm

Local anaesthetics (LA) are widely used drugs. Adverse reactions are rare but may be caused by delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and probably also immediate-type reactions. As it is not always easy to clinically differ between these subtypes, allergy skin testing should be considered. Although numerous test protocols have been published, how patients with hypersensitivity reactions to LA are ideally evaluated remains a topic of discussion. This review attempts to generate a comprehensive update on allergic reactions to LA and to present an algorithm that can be used for the evaluation of patients suspected with immediate- and delayed-type immune reactions. Literature was examined using PubMed-Medline, EMBASE, Biosis and Science Citation Index. Based on the literature, the proposed algorithm may safely and rapidly distinguish between immediate-type and delayed-type allergic immune reactions.