Abstract
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular, and is often used for treating hypersensitivity diseases. Virtually all alternative remedies can cause hypersensitivity reactions, but the most frequently involved ones are tea tree oil, members of the Compositae family, propolis, oils used in aromatherapy, substances responsible for photosensitization, and metal-containing compounds. The main target organ is skin, with manifestations ranging from contact dermatitis (the most common) to urticaria-angioedema, maculopapular eruptions, photosensitivity reactions, and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Other types of reactions are possible, including respiratory and anaphylactic ones. Different pathogenic mechanisms have been suggested for CAM product reactions, including immunologic ones. Basophils and mast cells participate in IgE-mediated reactions through the release of mediators like histamine and tryptase, whereas a T-cell-mediated pathogenic mechanism is involved in most delayed reactions, particularly contact dermatitis and maculopapular eruptions. Skin tests and serum specific IgE assays are carried out to diagnose immediate hypersensitivity reactions, while patch tests and lymphocyte transformation tests are usually performed to evaluate delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Thus clinicians should know about the potential of CAM products for causing adverse reactions. Our study is aimed at highlighting the risk of hypersensitive reactions to CAM remedies on the basis of the numerous cases reported in the literature. Because little is known about adverse reactions to CAM products, further systematic studies and an appropriate regulation by heath authorities are necessary.
Keywords: Hypersensitivity reactions, herbal remedies, metals, contact dermatitis, patch tests, specific IgE
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Hypersensitivity Reactions to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products
Volume: 12 Issue: 26
Author(s): Maria Teresa Ventura, Marinella Viola, Gianfranco Calogiuri, Francesco Gaeta, Oronzo Pesole and Antonino Romano
Affiliation:
Keywords: Hypersensitivity reactions, herbal remedies, metals, contact dermatitis, patch tests, specific IgE
Abstract: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular, and is often used for treating hypersensitivity diseases. Virtually all alternative remedies can cause hypersensitivity reactions, but the most frequently involved ones are tea tree oil, members of the Compositae family, propolis, oils used in aromatherapy, substances responsible for photosensitization, and metal-containing compounds. The main target organ is skin, with manifestations ranging from contact dermatitis (the most common) to urticaria-angioedema, maculopapular eruptions, photosensitivity reactions, and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Other types of reactions are possible, including respiratory and anaphylactic ones. Different pathogenic mechanisms have been suggested for CAM product reactions, including immunologic ones. Basophils and mast cells participate in IgE-mediated reactions through the release of mediators like histamine and tryptase, whereas a T-cell-mediated pathogenic mechanism is involved in most delayed reactions, particularly contact dermatitis and maculopapular eruptions. Skin tests and serum specific IgE assays are carried out to diagnose immediate hypersensitivity reactions, while patch tests and lymphocyte transformation tests are usually performed to evaluate delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Thus clinicians should know about the potential of CAM products for causing adverse reactions. Our study is aimed at highlighting the risk of hypersensitive reactions to CAM remedies on the basis of the numerous cases reported in the literature. Because little is known about adverse reactions to CAM products, further systematic studies and an appropriate regulation by heath authorities are necessary.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Teresa Ventura Maria, Viola Marinella, Calogiuri Gianfranco, Gaeta Francesco, Pesole Oronzo and Romano Antonino, Hypersensitivity Reactions to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2006; 12 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206778194079
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206778194079 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Factors Associated with Self-Reported Drug Allergies in a Large Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Cohort
Current Drug Safety Review on Plants with Traditional Uses and Bio-activity against Hair Graying
Current Traditional Medicine Endothelin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Current Enzyme Inhibition Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation: Present and Future
Current Pharmaceutical Design Use of N-acetyl-cysteine to Prevent Nephrotoxicity Associated with Iodinated Contrast Agents
Current Drug Therapy Editorial (Hot Topic: Inflammation, Coagulation, Vascular Permeability and Thrombosis)
Current Vascular Pharmacology Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Caused by Antituberculosis Drugs
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Macrolides Allergy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Adenovirus Vectors and Subviral Particles for Protein and Peptide Delivery
Current Gene Therapy Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Hypersensitivity to Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Role of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) in Ocular Allergy and Uveitis
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Parvalbumin as a Pleomorphic Protein
Current Protein & Peptide Science Antibodies Against Complement System in SLE and their Potential Diagnostic Utility
Current Rheumatology Reviews C1-Inhibitor: Structure, Functional Diversity and Therapeutic Development
Current Medicinal Chemistry Analgesia in PACU: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Current Drug Targets Histamine and Histamine Receptor Antagonists in Cancer Biology
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Advances in Peptide Pharmaceuticals
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Improvement in Hypertension Management with Pharmacological and Non- Pharmacological Approaches: Current Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Systematic Review on Infusion Reactions Associated with Chemotherapies and Monoclonal Antibodies for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Current Clinical Pharmacology