ANAPHYLAXIS
Liza Stefanie Peña-Sulay, M.D., DPPS, DPSAAI
Pediatric / Adult Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
General Pediatrics
OUTLINE
What is anaphylaxis?
How is anaphylaxis diagnosed?
How does anaphylaxis occur?
What are the causes?
What are the effects of anaphylaxis?
How is anaphylaxis treated?
OBJECTIVES
1. Diagnose anaphylactic/ anaphylactoid
reactions
2. Analyze the event as to the most
probable cause
3. Institute immediate proper treatment
4. Educate the patient on post-
anaphylaxis care
WHAT IS ANAPHYLAXIS?
1902: Portier & Richet were attempting
to immunize dogs to the venom of the
sea anemone
[Dogs were sensitized]
Dogs unexpectedly reacted fatally to a
previously non-lethal dose
“anaphylaxis”: against or w/o protection
WHAT IS ANAPHYLAXIS?
Immediate
Systemic
Hypersensitivity reaction
caused by
Release of mediators from mast cells &
basophils
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
CLINICALLY
(Immediate): Exposure to allergen w/in 1 hour
OR
(Hypersensitivity reaction):
Urticaria/angioedema (90%)
PLUS
(Systemic): 1 systemic symptom or sign
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
“sense of impending doom”
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS & SIGNS:
Respiratory (60%)---major shock organ
-Upper airway: includes nose; ear/ throat
pruritus/ “tightness”, dysphagia, hoarseness,
stridor; “staccato” dry cough may herald
upper airway obstruction!
-Lower airway: chest tightness, “deep” cough,
dyspnea, wheezing
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
CASE of the “WHEEZING w/o ASTHMA”
P.S., 8/M
2 hrs PTC, ate dinner
30 mins later: (+) abdominal pain,
(+) vomiting 2x, 10 mins apart
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
CASE of the “WHEEZING w/o ASTHMA”
ER: (+) wheezing, “asthma”
Mother: “No asthma”
X-ray
While at the x-ray room, (+) urticaria
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS & SIGNS:
CVS (50%): tachycardia, palpitations, chest
pain, arrythmia, feeling of faintness, syncope,
hypotension
GIT (45%): nausea, pain, vomiting, diarrhea
Others: eye ssxs, oral pruritus/ edema
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES: (“Flush”)
“Restaurant syndromes”: MSG, sulfites (found
in wine, shellfish, sausage, pickles, dried
fruits)
Scombroid poisoning: tuna, mackerel,
“tulingan”
-spoiled fish Kleb pneumo & Proteus
decarboxylate histidine saurine
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
“THE CASE OF THE UNFRESH FISH”:
B.G., 40/F
Well, no history of atopy/ allergy
Ate fish soup in restaurant
Within 30 minutes, (+) rash & dyspnea
Demanded reimbursement from restaurant
for all hosp expenses and was rewarded
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES:
(Pulmonary)
Foreignbody aspiration
Severe asthma attack
Pulmonary embolus
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES:
(Sudden collapse)
Vasovagal response: pallor,
diaphoresis, bradycardia
Arrythmia/ MI
Seizure/ CVA
Hypoglycemia
Drug overdose
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
“THE CASE OF THE PENADUR”:
M.G., 16/M
Severe mitral stenosis secondary to RHD
Came in for his usual Penadur injection
Few minutes after: cardiorespiratory arrest
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS DIAGNOSED?
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES:
Panicattacks
Hyperventilation syndrome
-No objective findings
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
I. IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
A. Type I reaction: “ANAPHYLAXIS”
B. Type II reaction
C. Type III reaction
II. NON-IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
A. Direct release of mediators
B. Disturbed arachidonic acid metabolism
C. Unknown
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Type I: IgE-mediated, “true” anaphylaxis
-FOOD
-DRUGS (Penicillins & related antibiotics,
insulin, immunoglobulins, muscle relaxants,
some local anesthetic reactions), latex
-venoms of Hymenoptera (bees, yellow
jackets, hornets, wasps, fire ants)
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Type II: cytotoxic reactions
-blood products
-dialysis membranes
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Type III: Ag-Ab complexes
-albumin, some immunoglobulin rxns,
dextran
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Type II: cytotoxic reactions
Type III: Ag-Ab complexes
-complement system C3a, C5a
(“anaphylatoxins”)
interact directly w/ mast cell & basophil
surface, and
directly induce vascular permeability &
contract smooth muscles
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
NON-IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
(Non Ag-Ab mediated)
Direct
activation of mast cells
-DRUGS: radiocontrast media, opiates,
local anesthetics,
some muscle relaxant
reactions
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
NON-IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Disturbed
arachidonic acid metabolism
-DRUGS: ASA, NSAIDs
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
NON-IMMUNOLOGIC MECHANISMS
Unknown
-many DRUGS
-exercise
-physical factors
-idiopathic
HOW DOES ANAPHYLAXIS OCCUR/
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
H1 Smooth muscle constriction of
receptor bronchi, GIT, coronary arteries
Inc. release of inflammatory
mediators & recruitment of cells;
Dec. AV node conduction time
H2 Inc. mucus production in airway
receptor Inc. chronotropy & inotropy
Both H1 Vasodilation & inc. vascular
& H2 permeability (flushing, headache,
receptors edema, hypotension)
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF
ANAPHYLAXIS?
FINAL COMMON PATHWAYS:
Inc. vascular permeability, vasodilation
fluid shifted to extravascular space can result
in a 50% loss of vascular volume within 10
minutes
compensatory vasoconstriction
myocardial ischemia
Spasm: respiratory & GI tracts,
coronary arteries
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
Regardless of mechanism
(whether anaphylactic or anaphylactoid):
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS &
EMERGENCY TREATMENT
ARE THE SAME!
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
EPINEPHRINE
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Drugs
Monitoring
Education
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
EPINEPHRINE:
-direct acting adrenergic agonist
In the initial treatment of anaphylaxis:
-alpha-1: dec. mucosal edema,
vasoconstriction, inc. PVR
-beta-2: dec. mediator release,
bronchodilation
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
“EPINEPHRINE should be given
promptly in anaphylaxis treatment, as
achieving high plasma & tissue
concentrations rapidly is crucial to
survival. In an animal model,
epinephrine given at the nadir of shock
failed to produce recovery, despite
elevated plasma epinephrine
concentrations.”
Bautista et al, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
EPINEPHRINE 1:1000 (1 mg/ml)
-0.01 ml/kg up to 0.5 ml IM
- if necessary, repeat q15 up to 2x
then q4
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
AIRWAY
-endotracheal intubation/
tracheostomy if needed
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
BREATHING
-O2 at 4-6 LPM
O2 sat >90%, PO2>60 mm Hg,
PCO2<65
-B2 agonist nebulization if needed
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
CIRCULATION
-recumbent, feet elevated (unless wheezing)
-if BP post-Epinephrine:
NSS/ pLR 30 cc/kg in the 1st hour then
titrate according to vital signs, degree
of hypovolemia, urine output,
pulmonary exam
-maintain SBP =/> 90 mm Hg
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
CIRCULATION
Refractory hypotension/ frank shock:
-CVP monitoring
-colloids
-Epinephrine IV bolus followed by drip
-Dopamine 2-20 mcg/kg/min
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
DRUGS
-Diphenhydramine 1-2 mg/kg/dose IM/
IV up to 50 mg q4-6
-Ranitidine 1-2 mg/kg/day up to 50 mg IV
q6-8
-Hydrocortisone 5-10 mg/kg/dose up to
100-500 mg IV q4-6
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
COURSE
-usually begins within minutes
-peaks within 15-30 minutes
-complete within hours
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
COURSE
Delayed
-the more rapid the onset, the more severe
Biphasic
-quiescent period 1-3 hours
-2nd phase 8-24 hours later, usually w/
severe respiratory symptoms/
bronchospasm
-may occur despite treatment
Protracted: 1 day- 3 weeks
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
MONITOR VITAL SIGNS
Observe for at least 8-12 hours after
signs & symptoms abate, and
For at least 24 hours after stabilization
for severe/ life-threatening reactions
Watch out for arrhythmias & treat
accordingly
HOW IS ANAPHYLAXIS TREATED?
1. EDUCATION OF PATIENT ON
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
*Note Epinephrine expiry or renew yearly
*D/C B-blockers
2. AVOIDANCE
3. REFERRAL
SUMMARY
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
Exposure to allergen within 1 hour
OR urticaria/ angioedema
PLUS
1 systemic symptom/ sign
SUMMARY
USUAL CAUSES
FOOD
DRUGS
Others
SUMMARY
TREATMENT
EPINEPHRINE!!!
ABCs of resuscitation
Drugs: H1 & H2 antagonists, steroid
Close monitoring
SUMMARY
POST-ANAPHYLAXIS CARE
EDUCATION OF PATIENT ON
EMERGENCY TREATMENT
AVOIDANCE
REFERRAL
SUMMARY
IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR
CLINICAL PRACTICE:
1. Always ask on ALLERGIES, esp. to
DRUGS.
2. Always bring EPINEPHRINE with you
whenever & wherever you plan to inject.
3. Keep patients in clinic 20-30 mins after
injection.
THANK YOU!
