Table 1.
Combinations of test results in 104 cases of perioperative chlorhexidine allergy
| Positive tests | Number of patients | Mean Chlorhexidine sIgE (kUA/l) (95% CI) | Patients with other positive allergy tests* | Patients with positive NMBA allergy tests | Patients with other positive allergy tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single pos IDT | 7 | 0·34 (0–0·35) | 3 |
1 × atracurium SPT 1 × vecuronium & atracurium IDT |
1 × gelatin sIgE |
| Single pos IgE | 16 | 4·34 (0–16·52) | 6 |
1 × rocuronium SPT 1 × cisatracurium IDT 2 × NMBA IDT & sIgE |
1 × QAM** sIgE 1 × morphine sIgE 1 × teicoplanin SPT |
| Single pos SPT | 32 | 0·34 (0–0·35) | 4 | 1 × atracurium SPT |
1 × carmosine SPT 1 × penicillin SPT 1 × latex SPT |
| Double pos IDT, sIgE | 9 | 8·50 (0–21·82) | 7 |
1 × vecuronium IDT & sIgE 1 × all NMBAs IDT & sIgE 1 × atracurium IDT 1 x atracurium sIgE |
1 × teicoplanin IDT & SPT 1 × amoxicillin sIgE 1 × gentamycin IDT 1 × morphine IDT |
| Double pos SPT, IDT | 3 | 0·34 (0–0·34) | 1 | 0 | 1 × gelatin IDT |
| Double pos SPT, sIgE | 32 | 8·96 (0–27·92) | 6 |
2 × all NMBA IDT 1 × rocuronium SPT & suxamethonium sIgE 1 × atracurium SPT 1 × suxamethonium IDT & sIgE |
1 x QAM sIgE 1 × morphine, amoxicillin sIgE |
| Triple pos SPT, IDT, sIgE | 2 | 1·08 (0·17–1·99) | 1 | 1 × suxamethonium sIgE | 1 × morphine SPT |
| Triple pos SPT, sIgE, BAT | 3 | 6·18 (0–13·56) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
There was no correlation between the number and type of positive tests or specific immunoglobulin (sIg)E level and reaction grade for the cohort of 104 cases (not shown). *Tests potentially relevant to the differential diagnosis of the reaction. **QAM = Quaternary Ammonium Moiety (e.g. Thiocholine or Suxamethonium sIgE). SPT = skin prick test; BAT = basophil activation test; IDT = intradermal skin test; NMBA = neuromuscular blocking agent; CI = confidence interval.