- Email: [email protected]
Drug Hypersensitivity
Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 24 (2004) xi – xii
Preface
Drug Hypersensitivity
Gerald W. Volcheck, MD
John B. Hagan, MD Guest Editors
James T.-C. Li, MD, PhD
Drug hypersensitivity is a common clinical problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of this issue of the Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America is to update clinicians on the current understanding and management of drug hypersensitivity. Since the last issue on this topic in 1995, there has been a marked increase in our understanding of the mechanisms of the immune system. Although this has aided our understanding of drug hypersensitivity, the clinical use of this knowledge is just coming to fruition. The authors in this issue have covered a wide spectrum of topics ranging from the basic underlying immune mechanisms occurring in drug hypersensitivity to daily clinical questions arising in drug hypersensitivity management for specific medications. The first five articles update the basic principles of drug hypersensitivity, reviewing classification and epidemiology, general clinical evaluation, mechanisms, dermatologic manifestations, and drug desensitization. These articles set the stage for articles concerning common clinical scenarios involving specific drug hypersensitivity including penicillin allergy, cephalosporin allergy, sulfa allergy, aspirin sensitivity, radiocontrast sensitivity, and drug hypersensitivity in HIV. The final article addresses a currently controversial topic: multiple drug sensitivity. We recognize the distinguished group of international scientists and clinicians for their contributions to this issue. We hope that readers find this issue to be a useful reference and perhaps a stimulus for further study in this area. Finally, we thank Sarah Barth (Senior Editor, Elsevier) and Janice Horsman (Medical 0889-8561/04/$ – see front matter D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2004.04.001
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G.W. Volcheck et al / Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 24 (2004) xi–xii
Secretary, Mayo Clinic) for their assistance and organizational skills provided throughout this endeavor. Gerald W. Volcheck, MD John B. Hagan, MD James T.-C. Li, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN 55905, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (G.W. Volcheck) [email protected] (J.B. Hagan) [email protected] (J.T.-C. Li)
Preface
Drug Hypersensitivity
Gerald W. Volcheck, MD
John B. Hagan, MD Guest Editors
James T.-C. Li, MD, PhD
Drug hypersensitivity is a common clinical problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of this issue of the Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America is to update clinicians on the current understanding and management of drug hypersensitivity. Since the last issue on this topic in 1995, there has been a marked increase in our understanding of the mechanisms of the immune system. Although this has aided our understanding of drug hypersensitivity, the clinical use of this knowledge is just coming to fruition. The authors in this issue have covered a wide spectrum of topics ranging from the basic underlying immune mechanisms occurring in drug hypersensitivity to daily clinical questions arising in drug hypersensitivity management for specific medications. The first five articles update the basic principles of drug hypersensitivity, reviewing classification and epidemiology, general clinical evaluation, mechanisms, dermatologic manifestations, and drug desensitization. These articles set the stage for articles concerning common clinical scenarios involving specific drug hypersensitivity including penicillin allergy, cephalosporin allergy, sulfa allergy, aspirin sensitivity, radiocontrast sensitivity, and drug hypersensitivity in HIV. The final article addresses a currently controversial topic: multiple drug sensitivity. We recognize the distinguished group of international scientists and clinicians for their contributions to this issue. We hope that readers find this issue to be a useful reference and perhaps a stimulus for further study in this area. Finally, we thank Sarah Barth (Senior Editor, Elsevier) and Janice Horsman (Medical 0889-8561/04/$ – see front matter D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2004.04.001
xii
G.W. Volcheck et al / Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 24 (2004) xi–xii
Secretary, Mayo Clinic) for their assistance and organizational skills provided throughout this endeavor. Gerald W. Volcheck, MD John B. Hagan, MD James T.-C. Li, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN 55905, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (G.W. Volcheck) [email protected] (J.B. Hagan) [email protected] (J.T.-C. Li)