Drug Hypersensitivity

Description

The first book to provide a truly comprehensive perspective

Drug hypersensitivities are immune-mediated reactions characterized by exanthems, fever and internal organ involvement. They represent a challenging field of research: many different drugs can induce a variety of clinical symptoms through multiple mechanisms of drug-host interaction, many of which are poorly understood.
This is the first book to approach the phenomenon of drug hypersensitivity in a comprehensive manner. Besides epidemiological aspects, it addresses the immunological mechanisms underlying these complicated reactions which go far beyond the IgE-mediated drug allergies also considered in the book. Furthermore, the book covers clinical manifestations and new diagnostic methods, and introduces some recently established animal models. Well-accepted and also completely new concepts are presented and discussed in detail. Many topics are treated from multiple perspectives, and the 33 chapters are thoroughly cross-referenced.
This publication will be of immense value not only to allergologists, dermatologists and anyone prescribing medication, but also to scientists in a pharmaceutical industry challenged by the economic effects of failures in drug development or drug removal from the market. Elucidating the mechanisms of drug hypersensitivity will not only help to identify patients at risk but will also provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of numerous immune-mediated diseases.

Reviews

’This book, covering new concept and innovative diagnostic methods on the phenomenon of drug hypersensitivity, represents a key stone for a better understanding of these diseases.
Its interesting reading should be useful for all the scientists both of the medical and the pharmaceutical community in order to enter and know deeper all the aspects connected with the setting up of the drug and cosmetic hypersensitivity.’

P. Morganti, Editor-in-Chief
(Journal of Applied Cosmetology Vol. 26, No. 2 (April/June 2008)

’Drug hypersensitivities represent an increasing problem in clinical medicine. They manifest under colorful and variable symptoms as exanthematous eruptions, fever, and affection of internal organs, and also as anaphylactic reactions. Drug hypersensitivities also are a challenging field of research because they induce a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms through quite different pathophysiological mechanisms; part of them are not very well understood.
The volume by Werner Pichler represents a phenomenal approach to cover the whole field from epidemiology, clinical symptoms, pathophysiology, to diagnostic and therapeutic workup. The author manages not only to include immunoglobulin EYdependent reactions, but also many other types of pathogenic immune reactions. In the section on diagnostic methods, new approaches with cellular in vitro techniques are discussed. In 33 chapters, with outstanding experts as authors, the book covers several aspects: starting with epidemiology and prevalence of the different types of adverse drug reactions. In the chapter 'Pathomechanisms,' genetics and animal models, molecular characteristics of drugs as haptens, special problems related to drugs, human immunodeficiency virus, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome are discussed. In the chapter 'Clinical Manifestations,' the problems of urticaria and anaphylaxis, analgesics, radiographic contrast media, and antibiotics are covered. Organ-related damages such as drug allergic liver injury, nephritis, or blood dyscrasias are equally considered.
In the outlook, strategies of desensitization are discussed. More and more often, the situation arises where patients are allergic to a life-saving drug that cannot be stopped. This occurs especially in severe infections, but also in oncology.
This book is of immense value not only to allergists and dermatologists, but also to all physicians prescribing medication, to scientists, and to the pharmaceutical industry.’

Johannes Ring, MD, PhD, Munich, Germany
(WAO Journal Vol. 1, No. 2, Feb. 2008)

’This text, with a detailed immunological focus, is a useful reference for the understanding of drug hypersensitivity. It may be used either as a practical reference by the specialized practitioner or pharmacology and immunology researcher, or as a supplemental text for instruction in upper-level pharmacology and immunology courses.’

Virginia Carvalhana, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
(The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Vol. 41, No. 12, 2007)

’This is an important book for all those interested in drug allergies. Werner Pichler has assembled an excellent team of authors, all of whom are authorities in their areas. The book is well organized and contains groups of chapters under the headings, Epidemiology, Basic Mechanisms, Clinical Manifestations, a section which is practically very useful on Diagnosis and Diagnostic Tests and finally a practical guide to Desensitization...’
Read the entire review here: PDF (50 KB)

Peter S. Friedmann
University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
(British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Oct. 2007)

«Erstmalig ist unter Mitwirkung ausgewiesener Experten unterschiedlicher Fachdisziplinen ein Lehrbuch zum Thema «Arzneimittel-Hypersensitivitätsreaktionen» entstanden, das sich in kurzer Zeit zu einem Standardwerk entwickeln dürfte.
Mit Hilfe zahlreicher Tabellen und Abbildungen werden unter Berücksichtigung aktueller Forschungsergebnisse in fünf umfangreichen Kapiteln nahezu alle relevanten Aspekte der immunologisch bedingten Arzneimittelreaktionen ausführlich besprochen….
…Zusammenfassend stellt das vorliegende Buch bereits in seiner ersten Auflage eine äusserst instruktive Lektüre für alle interessierten Pädiatrischen Allergologen dar, die sich umfassend über kutane und systemische Arzneimittelreaktionen informieren möchten.»
Lesen Sie die vollständige Rezension: PDF (110 KB)

Dr. med. Hagen Ott, Aachen
(Pädiatrische Allergologie in Klinik und Praxis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2007)