Anaphylaxis related to fentanyl citrate

• Published in: Journal of emergencies, trauma and shock Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 257 - 261
• Main Authors: Tomar, Gaurav Singh, Tiwari, Akhilesh Kumar, Chawla, Sonali, Mukherjee, A, Ganguly, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2012; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Anaphylaxis; Anesthesia; Antibiotics; Cardiac arrhythmia; Case Report; Case studies; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Drug dosages; Fentanyl; fentanyl citrate; immunoglobulin E; Ischemia; Medical treatment; Polyvinyl chloride; Prevention; rashes; Risk factors; Skin; Ventilation; Anaphylaxis; fentanyl citrate; immunoglobulin E; rashes
• ISSN: 0974-2700; 0974-519X
• DOI: 10.4103/0974-2700.99703

Anaphylaxis is a fulminant, unexpected, immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reaction that can be triggered by multiple agents. Common causative agents include neuromuscular blocking drugs, latex, antibiotics, colloids, hypnotics, and opioids. Fentanyl citrate, however, is an extremely unusual cause of anaphylaxis. Pulmonary edema, although uncommon in anaphylaxis, can be a prominent feature, as was in one of the patient. An adverse drug reaction is a noxious or unintended reaction to a drug that is administered in standard doses by the proper route for the purpose of prophylaxis, diagnosis, or treatment. Reactions are classified into two major subtypes: type A, which are dose dependent and predictable; and type B, which are not dose dependent and unpredictable. Unpredictable reactions include immune (allergic) or no immune drug hypersensitivity reactions and are related to genetic susceptibilities or undefined mechanisms (formally called idiosyncratic and intolerance reactions). A drug allergy is always associated with an immune mechanism for which evidence of drug-specific antibodies or activated T lymphocytes can be shown. In the last few years, many novel drugs have entered clinical practice (i.e., biologic agents) generating novel patterns of drug hypersensitivity reactions. As old drugs continue to be used, new clinical and biologic techniques enable improvement in the diagnosis of these reactions.