DRUG ALLERGY INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES

Diagnosis of allergies and pseudo-allergies due to drugs remains a dif ficult task which has made little progress over the past few decades. However, a better understanding of the various pathophysiological mech anisms and development of new techniques, such as evaluation by flowcy tometry of blood basophil activation or early stimulation of T cell su bpopulations in the presence of the suspected drug, allow a more optim istic outlook for the future. Similarly, tests based on mediator relea se, in particular sulfidoleucotrienes, in the case of allergic or pseu do-allergic drug reactions to drugs, deserve extensive clinical valida tion. The development of new diagnostic methods in drug allergy is a d ifficult task, which can only be accomplished by multicentre organisat ion of the efforts required, such as started by ENDA (European Network for Drug Allergy).