Time to revisit the definition and clinical criteria for anaphylaxis?
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Anaphylaxis represents the severe end of the spectrum of allergic reactions. A number of different definitions for anaphylaxis are currently foundin the literature (Table 1).[1-6]Manydefine anaphylaxis as a life-threatening reaction. However, data from large case series and patient registries have demonstrated that despite the fact thatthe vast majority of anaphylaxisreactionsare not treated appropriately with prompt administration of epinephrine/adrenaline, ingeneral this does not result in increased mortality or morbidity(such as hospitalization);[7-9]this observation is also consistent with national epidemiological datafor food anaphylaxis, which indicate that fatal anaphylaxis is a rare (but unpredictable) event.[10-12]Therefore, the majority of anaphylaxis reactions cannot be described as life-threatening in themselves,althoughdue to our inability to predict severity of reaction, [12]we emphasise that all anaphylaxis must be appropriately treated with intramuscular epinephrine/adrenaline. Both the descriptions used by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)[4] and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID)[5] refer to anaphylaxis as a serious allergic reaction, and acknowledge the spectrum of severity in terms of identifying the potential for anaphylaxis to be life-threatening.
Date Issued
2019-10-01
Date Acceptance
2019-09-10
Citation
The World Allergy Organization Journal, 2019, 12 (10)
ISSN
1939-4551
Publisher
BioMed Central
Journal / Book Title
The World Allergy Organization Journal
Volume
12
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf ofWorld Allergy Organization. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Subjects
WAO Anaphylaxis Committee
1103 Clinical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 100066