• Regina Treudler and Jan Christoph Simon.
• Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig A. ö. R., Germany. regina.treudler@uniklinik-leipzig.de
• J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2007 Apr 1; 5 (4): 286-92.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of PPL (major determinant) and MDM (minor determinant) sensitization as relevant allergens in beta-lactam allergy has been recently hampered by withdrawal from the market of formerly available test kits. We investigated a new PPL/MDM test kit in the work-up of beta-lactam allergy.Patients And Methods15 patients with history of beta-lactam allergy were investigated for specific IgE and received patch, skin prick (SPT) and intracutaneous tests (ICT; immediate and late readings) using the relevant beta-lactams. In addition the new test kit was used for parallel SPT and ICT.Results14 women and 1 man (16-73 years) with immediate (n = 7), delayed (n = 7) or unclear (n = 1) reactions to beta-lactams 8-300 months previously (penicillin G/V n = 3, aminopenicillins n = 7, cephalosporins n = 4, unknown n = 2) were tested. In patients with immediate type reactions, n = 2 had specific IgE, n = 4 reacted to the new test kit (n = 3 MDM, all of whom reacted exclusively to this test, n = 1 PPL). Two patients with non-immediate reactions reacted to other beta-lactams.ConclusionsOur data show that the new test kit may be helpful in detecting patients with immediate type allergy to beta-lactams. Without this test, in those three patients reacting exclusively to MDM, and oral provocation test would have been necessary to clarify their allergy. Data from larger groups of patients are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this test kit.

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