The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 121, Issue 4 , Pages 826-832.e5, April 2008

Diagnosis and management of HIV drug hypersensitivity

  • Carla M. Davis, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Carla M. Davis, MD, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin St, MC FC 330.01, Houston, TX 77030-2399.
  • ,
  • William T. Shearer, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex

Received 19 June 2007; received in revised form 16 October 2007; accepted 17 October 2007. published online 21 January 2008.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions are an important cause of morbidity in HIV-infected patients who take complex medication regimens. Correct diagnosis and management of these reactions are essential in the clinical care of HIV disease. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, abacavir, nevirapine, atazanavir, and enfuvirtide can all cause hypersensitivity rashes. In this review, we discuss the evidence for immunologic mechanisms of hypersensitivity reactions to HIV medications, the clinical characteristics of these reactions, and guidelines that currently exist for their identification and management.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus, drug hypersensitivity, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, antiretroviral agents, protease inhibitor, fusion inhibitor, integrase inhibitor

Abbreviations used: PI, Protease inhibitor, SJS, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, TEN, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, TMP-SMX, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

 

 Supported by National Institutes of Health grants AI27551, AI36211, A169441, HD41983, RR0188, HD79533, HL72705, and HD78522; and the David Fund, Pediatrics AIDS Fund, and Immunology Research Fund, Texas Children's Hospital.

 The content of this article was presented by W. T. Shearer as a part of the Symposium 4303 at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting 2007 entitled HIV/AIDS: An Update for the Allergist/Immunologist; Pharmacotherapy of HIV/AIDS and Diagnosis and Management of Drug and Other Hypersensitivity Phenomena.

 Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

PII: S0091-6749(07)01964-1

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2007.10.021

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 121, Issue 4 , Pages 826-832.e5, April 2008