[Analgesic intolerance: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment].

Analgesic intolerance brings on cutaneous, respiratory and/or gastrointestinal reactions. This review provides an overview of sensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory-drugs (NSAR) and its management. The full clinical picture of analgetic intolerance--the association of bronchial asthma (with severe acute attacks), sensitivity to NSAR and nasal polyps--is commonly summarized as the "Samter triad". The symptoms include chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, asthma bronchiale, gastrointestinal ulcers, angioedema, and urticaria. The prevalence of analgetic intolerance in the general population ranges from 0.6 to 2.5%. Clinical reactions after ingestion of NSAR are often obvious in the further progress of disease. In order to initiate early therapy the diagnosis of analgesic intolerance should occur before the complete picture of analgesic intolerance is obvious. Carefully controlled challenge tests with acetyl salicylic acid or other NSAR are performed as the diagnostic but not potential undamaged tool of choice. Adaptive desensitization (Aspirin desensitization therapy) is currently the single causal therapy. Severe asthma and reactions after ingestion of NSAR are avoided. Frequency of endonasal revision surgery is reduced after desensitization.