[The differential diagnosis of adverse reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In vitro and in vivo methods].

INTRODUCTION

According to the present knowledge, the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) depends on the inhibitory ratio of cyclooxigenase (COX)-1 to COX-2 in the plasma membranes. In addition to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects, there are adverse symptoms which can be divided into cross-intolerance (non-immune mediated) and single or multiple hypersensitive (immune mediated) reactions. Due to clinical phenotypes and to in vivo aspirin reactivity, adverse effects could be further classified.

AIM: The aim of these studies was a comparison of hit ratios obtained by a humoral serum test measuring specific immunglobulin E (IgE) against a rapid cellular test measuring interleukin (IL)-6 release from sensitized mononuclear cells due to various suspect NSAID after symptoms within one year. Retrospective case studies were performed in in- and out-patients of our teaching hospital in Budapest, between 2003 and 2013.

METHOD: Specific anti-NSAID IgE levels were determined by ELISA in 55 cases. The other matching group of patients consisted of 51 patients and 9 tolerant persons. Their separated cells' supernatants were checked for IL-6 release incubated for 20 minutes by NSAID dilutions including intraassay controls by two-step ELISA assay. Both groups have been stratified according to "new" clinical classification.

RESULTS

Results have disclosed no significant differences among the distribution of clinical symptoms between the two groups. In both groups, 9 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were tested representing all frequently used compounds with COX-1 inhibitory potential. The overall positivity rate was nearly double (65.4% against 36.9%) within the group using IL-6 release assay against that with specific IgE as the diagnostic tool. In certain cases, non-drug components of commercial preparations prompted IL-6 release as well which was paralleled by in vivo test results. Positive in vitro tests were obtained in both groups with clinically cross-intolerant as well as single or multiple sensitized cases.

CONCLUSION

The rates of single or multiple sensitized cases exceeded in both groups that of cross-intolerant patients. In some phenotypes belonging to the latter categories, IgE type antibodies against acetylsalicylic acid could be detected as well. IL-6 release assay was the more sensitive test. In addition to pure drugs, other ingredients of medicines could also be responsible for adverse events. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(38): 1556-1566.