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Michael H. Grieco, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1967;119(2):141-146.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Allergic reactions to penicillin occur in approximately 1% to 10% of patients.¹ The frequency of anaphylaxis, the most severe type of reaction, is also variable but one recent study revealed nonfatal anaphylaxis in 0.11% of cases of which 0.035% were considered severe.² From Welch's study in 1957, it is estimated that 10% of severe penicillin anaphylactic reactions are fatal.³

The problem of penicillin hypersensitivity has been approached in two separate ways. First, an intensive effort has been made to define an objective and dependable method for detecting penicillin allergy. Multiple studies have been published dealing with the use of penicillin and several metabolites in an attempt to demonstrate skin-sensitizing antibody,^4,5 hemagglutinating antibody,^6,7 indirect basophil degranulation,⁸ histamine release from leukocytes,⁹ rabbit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis,¹⁰ and increase of lymphocyte size with tissue culture of sensitized lymphocytes.¹¹ A well-defined testing procedure has not yet been evolved.¹

Since all penicillin derivations, including penicillin O, . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
New York

From the Allergy Laboratory, Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital Center, New York.

Footnotes
Received for publication Feb 11, 1966; accepted Oct 21.

Reprint requests to St. Luke's Hospital Center. Amsterdam Ave at 113th St, New York 10025 (Dr. Grieco).

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