• Blanca Sáenz de San Pedro, Cristobalina Mayorga, María José Torres, Jose Fernando Florido, Joaquín Quiralte, and Miguel Blanca.
• Allergy Unit, Ciudad de Jaén Hospital, Spain. jqe01@saludalia.com
• Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002 Jul 1; 89 (1): 101-3.

BackgroundCefuroxime is a second-generation lactamase-stable cephalosporin. Its use is on the increase, and in recent years several reactions to this compound have been reported.ObjectiveTo describe a case of selective reaction to cefuroxime, showing a boosted immunoglobulin (Ig)E response after administration of this drug.MethodsSpecific serum IgE antibodies to several cephalosporins were monitored in a 52-year-old man after a selective systemic anaphylaxis attributable to cefuroxime, who showed a good tolerance to penicillin V during a single-blind, placebo-controlled challenge.ResultsSpecific IgE levels to cefuroxime were not detected at the moment of the reaction but became positive 1 day after, increasing to peak at day 51, and still positive after 115 days. Through radioallergosorbent test inhibition, cross-reactivity between cefuroxime and cefotaxime was demonstrated.ConclusionsIgE-mediated reaction attributable to cefuroxime with cross-reactivity to cefotaxime was reported. A prompt evaluation undertaking skin tests and additional radioallergosorbent test studies with different betalactam derivatives improves the evaluation of subjects with allergic reactions to betalactams.

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