BACKGROUND: Drug tolerance tests (DTTs) are commonly used to find a safe therapeutic alternative for patients with previous type B adverse drug reactions (ADRs), but few studies on safety and reliability are available. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 739 subjects with previous ADRs who underwent DTTs; 12 months after the test, use of the tested drug(s) and occurrence of ADRs were investigated in 260 of them. RESULTS: ADRs to antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the main reasons for which DTTs were requested. 925 DTTs were performed in the 739 patients, with 97 ADRs. Twelve months after the test, 125/260 patients interviewed had used the tested drug(s): 118 of them experienced no ADR, 4 experienced 'true' ADRs, and 3 reported predictable/unclear reactions. CONCLUSION: Our data show that DTTs are safe and reliable at 1 year, but patients and general practitioners do not trust them. It is strongly advisable to have better information on methods, benefits, risks and reliability of DTTs.
Safety and reliability of challenge test for alternative drugs (tolerance test): our experience on 739 patients
GANGEMI, Sebastiano;GUARNERI, Claudio;GUARNERI, Fabrizio Nicola Giuseppe
2011-01-01
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug tolerance tests (DTTs) are commonly used to find a safe therapeutic alternative for patients with previous type B adverse drug reactions (ADRs), but few studies on safety and reliability are available. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 739 subjects with previous ADRs who underwent DTTs; 12 months after the test, use of the tested drug(s) and occurrence of ADRs were investigated in 260 of them. RESULTS: ADRs to antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the main reasons for which DTTs were requested. 925 DTTs were performed in the 739 patients, with 97 ADRs. Twelve months after the test, 125/260 patients interviewed had used the tested drug(s): 118 of them experienced no ADR, 4 experienced 'true' ADRs, and 3 reported predictable/unclear reactions. CONCLUSION: Our data show that DTTs are safe and reliable at 1 year, but patients and general practitioners do not trust them. It is strongly advisable to have better information on methods, benefits, risks and reliability of DTTs.Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.