Clinical profile of drug sensitivity test in patients with a previous history of allergy as part of preanesthetic evaluation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective study looking at the profile of patients undergoing drug sensitivity tests (DST) and its utility in preventing hypersensitivity in the perioperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients who had a previous history of drug allergy and or other forms of allergies were enrolled in the study. These were patients referred to our center before procedures requiring anesthesia. DST was done by the Skin prick method and supplemented by intradermal in few patients. Drugs chosen for testing was based on patient's allergic history and referring doctors request, usually anesthetics, antibiotics, and analgesics. RESULTS: Of 110 patients included in study, 84 were female. Eighty-eight had a history of drug allergy, either documented or presumed. Twenty-one had other forms of allergy, of whom 11 had food allergy, eight had allergic rhinitis with or without asthma, and three had allergic dermatitis or urticaria. The DST was positive in 65 patients, negative in 45. Drugs that showed positive reactions were ciprofloxacin in 21 patients, diclofenac in 20, atracurim, and ondansetron in 11, paracetamol, amoxicillin clavulanate, pentazocine in five each. CONCLUSION: DST in preanesthetic evaluation would prevent potential hypersensitivity reaction in the perioperative period. Sixty percent of patients showed sensitivity; ten percent of them had food allergy, allergic rhinitis, skin allergy without a history of drug allergy. Antibiotics and analgesics showed more sensitivity than anesthetics. All patients underwent their anesthetic procedures without any drug hypersensitivity reaction.