In patients with non-immediate reactions to BLs (maculopapular exathema or urticarial exanthema), the sensitivity of skin testing is low and DPT may be required to establish the diagnosis. The reproducibility of the reactions and the cytokine pattern expressed during the acute episode support a T cell-induced non-immediate response.

Both tests appear valuable for the diagnosis of NIR to AP. However, IT diagnosed more patients than PT. The vehicle (saline or petrolatum) had no influence on the response, although in the former the concentration was critical. The immunohistochemical analysis showed skin infiltrates compatible with a T-cell drug reaction.

These data indicate that an important number of subjects are not correctly identified if only skin tests and/or CAP-FEIA are used and that this is particularly relevant for side chain-specific reactions and younger subjects. This suggests that new diagnostic tests are required so as to limit the use of controlled administration.

No abstract