Anaphylactoid Reactions

Abstract

With recent advances in the understanding of the immunological basis of urticaria, it has become apparent that certain chemicals elicit allergic reactions by non-immunological mechanisms (see Chapter 2, p. 5). Since any of the major types of immunological reactions can be mimicked by chemicals, the term pseudo-allergic reactions (PAR) was coined by P. Dukor, P. Kallòs, H.D. Schlumberger, and G.B. West (1980). Their view of this problem is thoroughly discussed in a three-volume series with the same title. In the American literature, the term idiosyncratic has also been used (Farr 1970), but it seems somewhat clumsy. For urticarial reactions of the pseudoallergic type, the term anaphylactoid reactions seems most appropriate since it refers to the specific immunologic type of pseudoallergic reactions that is mimicked clinically. The term intolerance reaction has also been in common usage for many years, particularly in connection with aspirin.