Risk Factors Influencing Hypersensitivity to the Local Anesthetic Drugs

Abstract

Different combinations of human leukocyte antigens and natural killer immunoglobulin-like receptors may be associated with the development of drug allergy. The aim of the study was to identify risk-factors associated with hypersensitivity to local anesthetic drugs. Allergy to local anesthetic agents were evaluated by skin tests and venous blood tests for presence of allergen-specific immunoglobulins type E by Enzyme-linked Immunoassay. The skin testes were performed for lidocaine, mepivacaine, articaine. Four hundred fifty patients have been included in the study with age range between 4 and 79 years. Special questionnaire was used to collect demographic, family history and clinical data. By statistical analysis, the allergic status to local anesthetic agent was associated with the presence of allergy to the different types of allergens among patients’ mothers or sibships, presence of drug allergy, presence of food allergy, presence of recent infectious diseases and specific genetic profiles Both genetic and acquired factors are associated with the development of hypersensitivity to local anesthetic agents. The obtained data can contribute to the clarification of immunogenetic mechanisms of development of drug-related allergies..