Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2017 May;5(3):165-168. 10.4168/aard.2017.5.3.165.

Immediate hypersensitivity reaction to steroids: a case report

Affiliations
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. helenmed@snu.ac.kr
  • 3Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Seoul National University Hospital Drug Safety Monitoring Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Steroids are widely used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including autoimmune and allergic diseases. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions can occur within 1 hour after administration of steroids and are regarded as IgE-mediated hypersensitivity presenting as urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis. Steroid hypersensitivity is rare, but can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to find implicated drugs and to choose safe alternative agents. A 44-year-old female was diagnosed with steroid hypersensitivity after intralesional steroid injection. She underwent a skin prick test and an intradermal test for methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone. The results were positive to triamcinolone and methylprednisolone. The patient was educated to avoid culprit agents in order to prevent recurrence. Herein, we report a rare case of steroid hypersensitivity that showed positive reactions to triamcinolone and methylprednisolone. A review of the literature for steroid hypersensitivity is also provided.

Keyword

Drug hypersensitivity; Steroids; Skin tests

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anaphylaxis
Angioedema
Bronchial Spasm
Dexamethasone
Drug Hypersensitivity
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity, Immediate*
Intradermal Tests
Methylprednisolone
Recurrence
Skin
Skin Tests
Steroids*
Triamcinolone
Urticaria
Dexamethasone
Hydrocortisone
Methylprednisolone
Steroids
Triamcinolone

Figure

  • Fig. 1. The structure of hydrocortisone.


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