Incidence and Severity of Adverse Drug Reactions in Medical Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) curtail patients' quality of life by virtue of increasing therapeutic complexity and rising multimorbidity. In India, the frequency of ADRs for individual drugs and their economic burdens are rarely evaluated. This study aimed at identifying the incidence and severity of ADRs leading to hospitalization (ADRA) and occurring during a hospital stay (ADRH).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence the incidence and severity of ADRs in the ICU and their impact on the duration of hospitalization, along with the cost incurred to treat ADRs in the ICU.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data on patients admitted to the ICU were collected, analyzed and evaluated for ADRs. According to the setting analyzed, a descriptive analysis of the reactions, suspected medicines, and associated factors was undertaken.

RESULTS

A total of 208 patients were admitted to the ICU during the study period, of which ADRA contributed 9.1% of the incidence rate and 8.1% of ADRH in 36 patients. Males had a higher incidence of ADRs than females. Patients who had ADRs had a substantially longer length of stay than those who did not. Electrolyte disturbance was the most commonly found ADR. According to the Hartwig scale and WHO-causality scale, 88.9% were moderate, and 97.2% were possible ADRs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a similar incidence rate of ADRA and ADRH was observed. The average cost for treating ADRA was higher than that for treating ADRH. As a result, identifying and preventing these reactions is critical, as they cause the patient greater suffering.

Delayed hypersensitivity reactions to iodinated contrast media: A diagnostic approach by skin tests

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug reactions to iodinated contrast media (ICM) have risen due to their increasing use in x-ray-based imaging modalities. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions are mainly caused by nonionic monomeric compounds and represent an issue impacting the diagnostic-therapeutic pathways of cancer, cardiology and surgery patients.

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate the usefulness of skin tests in delayed hypersensitivity reactions to ICM and to evaluate the tolerability of iobitridol, a monomeric nonionic low osmolality compound, as a possible safe alternative.

METHODS

Patients with delayed hypersensitivity reactions to ICM referred to us from 2020 to 2022 were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients underwent patch test and, if negative, intradermal test with the culprit ICM and iobitridol as alternative.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients (females 24, 64.9%) were enrolled in the study. Iodixanol and iomeprol were the most frequently involved ICM (48.5% and 35.2%, respectively); 62.2% of patients presented maculopapular eruption, while 37.8% reported delayed urticaria-like rash. Skin tests resulted positive to the culprit ICM in 19 patients (51.4%), 16 to patch test and 3 to intradermal test. Skin tests with iobitridol, tested as alternative, resulted positive in 3/19 patients (15.8%). All 16 patients with negative results to iobitridol were administered this ICM and tolerated it.

CONCLUSIONS

In at least half of patients, delayed-type hypersensitivity was demonstrated by skin tests, particularly by patch test. This diagnostic approach resulted simple, cost-effective and safe, not only to confirm the culprit ICM but also to identify iobitridol as feasible alternative.

Advancing the understanding of allergic contact dermatitis: from pathophysiology to novel therapeutic approaches

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common inflammatory skin disease that, especially when the condition becomes chronic, has a high impact on the quality of life and represents a significant disease burden. ACD represents a type IV delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that is triggered by contact with an allergen in previously sensitized individuals through the activation of allergen-specific T cells. In the acute phase, it is characterized by eczematous dermatitis, which presents with erythema, edema, vesicles, scaling, and intense itch. Non-eczematous clinical forms are also described (lichenoid, bullous, and lymphomatosis). Lichenification is the most common clinical picture in the chronic phase if the culprit allergen is not found or eliminated. ACD can be associated with both occupational and non-occupational exposure to allergens, representing approximately 90% of occupational skin disorders along with irritant contact dermatitis. Patch testing with suspected allergens is required for a diagnosis. Metals, especially nickel, fragrance mix, isothiazolinones, and para-phenylenediamine, are the most commonly positive allergens in patients patch tested for suspected ACD. The treatment goal is to avoid contact with the culprit agent and use topical and/or systemic corticosteroid therapy.

[Drug allergy: Fundamental aspects in diagnosis and treatment.]

BACKGROUND

Any substance used as a treatment for any disease can produce harmful or unpleasant events called adverse drug reactions (ADRs). They are due to inherent biological effects of the drug and are caused by immunological and non-immunological mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the immunological mechanisms of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to drugs, their epidemiology, risk factors, classification, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

METHODS

A review of the most current literature in English and Spanish was carried out, in the main databases, related to the HSR of various drug groups.

RESULTS

This study describes the terms used to define ADRs and HSRs, their classification and clinical manifestations, current diagnostic tools, treatment algorithms and prognosis of the most frequently used medications and with the highest prevalence of reported adverse events.

CONCLUSION

ADRs are a challenging entity, with a complex pathophysiology that has not been fully understood. Its approach requires a careful consideration since not all drugs have validated tests for their diagnosis nor a specific treatment. When indicating the use of any drug, the severity of the disease, the availability of other treatments and the potential risks of developing future adverse events should always be taken into consideration.

Mucocutaneous Adverse Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines: Do Excipients Play a Role?

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

Ineffectiveness of Skin Tests in Predicting Allergic Reactions Induced by Chinese Herbal Injections

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether skin tests are suitable to predict the allergy reactions induced by Chinese herbal injections (CHIs).

METHODS

The skin tests including skin prick tests (SPT), intradermal tests (IDT) and provocation tests including subcutaneous tests and intravenous tests were administered to 249 healthy subjects and 180 allergic patients for 3 CHIs, including ginkgolide injection, diterpene ginkgolide meglumine injection and Salvianolate lyophilized injection. The results of the provocation tests were used as the "gold standard" to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the skin tests.

RESULTS

The results did not show any significant differences between the healthy and allergy groups in both skin tests and provocation tests (P>0.05). The specificities of SPT and IDT were 0.976 and 0.797, respectively, and the sensitivities of both SPT and IDT were 0.

CONCLUSION

Skin tests are insufficient to predict the likelihood of allergic reactions resulting from CHIs. (ChiCTR-CPC-15006921).

A case of delayed maculopapular eruption to ibuprofen and acute urticaria to acetaminophen

We present the unique case of a 33-year-old male referred to our clinic in search of analgesic options who was found to have a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to ibuprofen manifesting as a maculopapular rash and acute urticaria to acetaminophen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with predictable reactions as well as immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions or T-cell mediated reactions. This case highlights the importance of knowledge of the different types of reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents as well as the risk of cross reactivity. Delayed reaction to a single non-steroidal agent is rare; urticaria to acetaminophen is very rare. This is the first report we have found in the literature where one individual has a delayed reaction manifesting as rash to ibuprofen as well as urticaria to acetaminophen. We challenged our patient to aspirin which helped identify that his delayed reaction was only to ibuprofen and urticaria only to acetaminophen. The case also highlights the importance of an oral provocation challenge when no contraindications exist which helped us find that he could take celecoxib and avoid narcotics as initial therapy.

Safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in psoriatic patients treated with biologics: A real life experience

Vaccination is the most effective method to prevent and control the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and biologics are not considered a contraindication for vaccination. The burning question is that safety data are lacking since patients taking drugs affecting the immune system were excluded from clinical trials leading to vaccine approbation. Moreover, it seems that vaccination could worsen psoriasis. We conducted a survey to investigate the safety of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines in psoriatic patients treated with biologics. A total of 150 patients with stable plaque psoriasis treated with biologics for at least 2 months were evaluated in a 3 months period. Fifty patients (22 F/28 M; age: 33–83 years) only underwent the first and second doses of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines. All patients discontinued their biological agents 10 days before and 10 days after each dose of vaccine. Of these, 24 patients were treated with anti‐TNF, 14 with anti‐IL17, 7 with anti‐IL12‐23, and 5 with anti‐IL23. After the vaccines, all patients were evaluated at day 2, 7, and 14 for local and/or systemic side effects and/or adverse drug reactions to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines. None of the patients experienced any side effects or a psoriatic flare. Only one patient treated with infliximab biosimilar referred an exacerbation of psoriasis after vaccine. The remaining 100 patients reported that they did not get the vaccine yet. Our preliminary data confirm that SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccines are safe for patients with chronic plaque psoriasis treated with biologics and did not trigger psoriasis, although these data should be validated in a larger population. We encourage an early SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines administration in all psoriatic patients on immunosuppressant drugs.

Role of Patch Testing in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common debilitating condition. Although not completely understood, the main pathomechanism involves autoimmune-related mast-cell degranulation. Patch test (PT) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of type IV cutaneous hypersensitivity. The relevance of PT to the diagnosis of CSU is debatable.

Objective

We aimed at determining the role of PT in selected patients with CSU.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we reviewed cases of patients referred for patch testing at our clinic. We compared results of patients with CSU (n = 134) and patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (n = 680; control group).

Results

Among patients in the CSU group, 3% of patients had relevant reactions to PT, indicating that contact allergen avoidance resulted in resolution of all skin findings. Metals and textile dyes were the most relevant allergens. No significant differences were found between the groups with regard to the percentage of patients with positive PT and hapten reaction profiles. Patients from the CSU group were significantly older (4.1 years on average, P < 0.05), consisted of more females, and were less likely to have atopic trait (46% vs 58%, P<0.05).

Conclusion

In some of patients, PT may assist in determining the cause of CSU.

Patch testing of budesonide in Italy: The SIDAPA baseline series experience, 2018-2019

BACKGROUND

Budesonide was included in the European Baseline Series in 2000 as the most suitable marker forcorticosteroid hypersensitivity. In the last two decades, a decreasing trend of budesonide allergy has been observed.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of positive patch test reactions to budesonide in a large, Italian patch test population, characterizing patients according to MOAHLFA index and evaluating the benefit with extended readings of budesonide patch test.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patient demographics and patch test results over a 2-year period (2018-2019) was performed at 14 patch test clinics in Italy.

RESULTS

Ninety out of 14 544 (0.6%) patients reacted to budesonide 0.01% pet.. Positive reactions were mild in 54.4% and late readings at day 7 showed new positive reactions in 37.8% of patients. The MOAHLFA index showed a significant positive association with male gender, atopic dermatitis, and age >40 years and a significant negative association with hand and face dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

We documented a low prevalence of budesonide allergy in Italy, confirming its decreasing trend recently reported in the literature. Nevertheless, budesonide needs to be maintained in the baseline series for its good ability to detect corticosteroid sensitization.