Table 2.
Demographic and Key Baseline Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Any Desensitization and the 7SP
| Characteristic | All Desensitization Patients, N = 81 (% or SD) | 7SP Patients, n = 23 (% or SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Sex | ||
| M | 31 (38.3) | 10 (43.5) |
| F | 50 (61.7) | 13 (56.5) |
| Age | 63.85 ± 12.324 | 62.57 ± 14.148 |
| Race | ||
| White | 62 (76.5) | 19 (82.6) |
| Black | 17 (21) | 3 (13) |
| Other | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0) |
| Asthma | 22 (27.2) | 6 (26.1) |
| Polyps | 7 (8.6) | 1 (4.3) |
| Allergic rhinitis | 13 (16) | 9 (39.1) |
| Chronic urticaria | 2 (2.5) | 1 (4.3) |
| Chronic angioedema | 1 (1.2) | 1 (4.3) |
| Reported allergy to other medications | 54 (66.7) | 10 (43.5) |
| Type of drug initially reacted to: | ||
| ASA | 66 (81.5) | 17 (73.9) |
| NSAIDa | 4 (4.9) | 2 (8.7) |
| Initial reaction to ASA involving:b | ||
| Rash or hives | 41 (50.6) | 11 (47.8) |
| Angioedema | 42 (51.9) | 11 (47.8) |
| SOB or wheeze | 18 (22.2) | 5 (21.7) |
| Time since last reaction, y | ||
| <1 | 6 (7.4) | 3 (13) |
| 2–5 | 9 (11.1) | 2 (8.7) |
| 6–10 | 12 (14.8) | 2 (8.7) |
| 11–20 | 15 (18.5) | 5 (21.7) |
| >20 | 23 (28.4) | 6 (26.1) |
Abbreviations: 7SP, 7‐step rapid desensitization protocol; ASA, aspirin; DS, desensitization; F, female; M, male; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug; SD, standard deviation; SOB, shortness of breath.
Initial NSAID reactions in all desensitization patients were to naproxen sodium in 1 patient and ibuprofen in 3 patients. One patient with an ibuprofen reaction and the patient reacting to naproxen sodium were also in the 7SP group. It was unknown which drug 6 of the patients initially reacted to (7.4%), and 1 patient (1.2%) took ASA and NSAIDS together at the time of initial reaction.
Three of the 4 patients reacting to NSAIDs did not have history of reaction to ASA, therefore symptoms were not included in the initial reaction to aspirin column (2 of these are also in the 7SP column). The 1 patient who also later reacted to ASA had his symptoms to ASA included.