Reactions to Antituberculous Drugs and Desensitization Treatment

AbstractPurpose of reviewThis paper intends to review the most frequent adverse reactions to antituberculous drugs specifically those classified as hypersensitivity in nature, and how to deal with this problem in practical terms. It is known that any adverse effect can occur with any drug and antituberculous agents are not an exception.Recent findingsSome risk factors have been described including high age, malnutrition, and high alcohol consumption. We will focus on hypersensitivity reactions to isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol.SummaryThe paper addresses specifically the most described hypersensitivity reactions to each of these drugs. If any important reaction occurs, the drugs should be stopped until total resolution of the reaction. When other strategies fail and if the drug is necessary as one of the first-line drugs to the treatment, desensitization can be used as a method to o reintroduce the drug. The authors address this issue either in theoretical terms as examples with protocols for immediate and non-immediate reactions.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Allergy - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research