Viruses as a trigger for antibiotic allergy?

Antibiotic allergy: "Awakening viruses" as a trigger?

(13.09.2010) Antibiotic and antiepileptic allergies are not an overreaction of the immune system to the drug, but are caused by herpes or Epstein-Barr virus, previously „slept“. This is reported by French scientists from the University of Dermatology, Rouen, in the journal „Science Translational Medicine“.

Ingestion of antibiotics or antiepileptic drugs causes severe allergic reactions in some people, with the first symptoms such as rash and fever occurring around three weeks after taking the drug. The intensity of the response varies widely and causes severe infection-like conditions in some patients, resulting in approximately 10 percent of the patient's death. The cause has always been a direct reaction of the organism to the corresponding drug suspected.

The research team led by study leader Philippe Musette has examined 40 patients with known hypersensitivity to antibiotics and antiepileptic drugs. They were now able to prove for the first time that the allergic reaction is not based on the drug itself. Much more „awakening“ by taking the medication certain viruses that were already latent in the body and the organism responds with allergic symptoms. For example, in 76 percent of the patients, the researchers detected an increase in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and / or certain herpes viruses in the blood. In addition, the immune cells, T-lymphocytes of the CD8 + type, were activated and released large quantities of pro-inflammatory messengers. A large part of T-lymphocytes reacted specifically to the surface proteins of Epstein-Barr virus. Thus, according to the study leader Philippe Musette, in persons with appropriate genetic predisposition, the drugs reactivated by the virus, the so far in the „Sleep Mode“ were what is the determining factor for patients' antibiotic and anti-epileptic allergies.

These findings can be extremely helpful in the treatment of those affected, because instead of hitherto strictly stop the antibiotic or antiepileptic drugs when overreaction occurs, could in the future the „awakened“ Viruses can also be treated directly with corticosteroids (short: corticoids) or, in the case of very serious symptoms, with antivirals to avoid a corresponding reaction of the organism. (Fp)

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