Background: Although unexpected and paradoxical, allergic hypersensitivity to corticosteroids is a common finding, delayed-type reactions being much more frequently encountered than the immediate-type ones. Although the skin is the main sensitization and elicitation route, other routes, amongst them systemic administration of corticosteroids may exceptionally be involved.
Objective: To determine the frequency, clinical presentation and cross-reactivity patterns for allergic reactions following systemic administration of corticosteroids amongst patients with identified and investigated 'contact allergy' to corticosteroids.
Methods: We reviewed clinical data, patch test results and sensitization sources in patients who reacted positively to corticosteroids tested in the K.U. Leuven Dermatology department during an 18-year period.
Results: Sixteen subjects (out of 315 with CS delayed-type hypersensitivity) presented with allergic manifestations due to systemic administration of corticosteroids. Most patients reacted to molecules from the three groups of the recently reappraised classification.
Conclusion: The reactions observed seem to be in most cases 'systemic contact dermatitis' due to oral or parenteral re-exposure of sensitized individuals with the respective corticosteroids previously applied topically. Moreover, most patients seem to be able to react to any corticosteroid molecules and therefore need a systematic individualized evaluation of their sensitization/tolerance profile.
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.