In The Light of the Guidelines: Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a multi-systemic disease, which develops associated with the sudden expression of mast cell mediators into the systemic circulation, and can be life-threatening. The majority of cases are reactions to food, drugs, or insect stings, mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE), and may cause a process resulting in degranulation of mast cells. Severe asthma, mastocytosis, cardiovascular disease, elevated basal serum triptase, the use of beta blockers or ACE inhibitors, exercise, acute infections and emotional stress are some of the reasons increasing the risk of anaphylaxis. As cardiac functions and respiration can halt within minutes during an anaphylaxis attack, treatment must be applied rapidly immediately after diagnosis. Adrenalin is the first and most important drug which should be given in treatment. In this review, the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis are summarised in the light of current literature.