Aspirin sensitivity: The role for aspirin challenge and desensitization inpostmyocardial infarction patients

Aspirin is one of the world's most commonly used medications and its use be nefits many diverse conditions. Adverse reactions, however, are relatively common as well. Hypersensitivity to aspirin can be manifested as acute asth ma, urticaria and/or angioedema, or a systemic anaphylactoid reaction. We r eport 3 cases in whom aspirin was indicated for secondary prophylaxis of my ocardial infarction but in whom a remote history of an untoward reaction to it prevented its initial use. These patients all underwent further evaluat ion of their pulmonary and allergic history and all 3 were challenged with aspirin. Two patients were found not to be sensitive and started on aspirin , the other had a classic asthmatic reaction to the drug and was successful ly desensitized to aspirin allowing for its use.