PRESENT ASPECTS IN IMMUNO-ALLERGOLOGY OF THE RISKS INVOLVED WHEN PRESCRIBING ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Among the adverse effects of medication, allergy to drugs is one of th e foremost. Although anti-hypertensive drugs are widely prescribed, li ttle is known about the frequency of immuno-allergic accidents. This a rticle describes accidents which have occured over the last four years , involving the following types of drugs: diuretics, beta-adrenergic, blocking agents, calcium antagonists, central anti-hypertensive drugs, arid converting enzyme inhibitors (CEI). The potentializing effect of beta-blocking agents on anaphylactic reactions is well-known. A new p roblem is the frequency of reaction to CEI. They are responsible for s everal clinical symptoms: eruptions, interstitial pneumonitis, hematol ogical reactions, hepatitis. They are contraindicated for patients pre senting with an hereditary or acquired angioneurotic oedema. The scars ity of published biological data accounts for the poor knowledge of th e pathogenical mechanisms involved. A definition of these mechanisms w ill only be achieved through skin and biological tests and by systemat ically reporting these types of accidents to Monitoring Centers for Dr ug Safety.