Fatal anaphylaxis with neuromuscular blocking agents: a risk factor and management analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) can be severe and even fatal. Our aim was to evaluate mortality rate in France from anaphylactic reactions to NMBAs, to identify risk factors for a fatal outcome, and to describe management of the cases that proved fatal. METHODS: The French National Pharmacovigilance Database was queried for reports of NMBA anaphylaxis that occurred between January 2000 and December 2011. A questionnaire was sent to regional pharmacovigilance centers to obtain further information on the management of cases with a fatal outcome. RESULTS: Two thousand and twenty-two cases of NMBA hypersensitivity were retrieved, of which 84 were fatal (4.1%). Among the 1247 cases of severe NMBA anaphylaxis (grades 3 and 4), independent risk factors associated with a fatal outcome in a multivariate analysis were male gender (female gender: OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.7; P = 0.0004), an emergency setting (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.5-4.6; P = 0.0007), a history of hypertension (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-4.4; P = 0.0010) or of other cardiovascular disease (OR = 4.4; 95% CI 2.4-8.1; P < 0.0001), obesity (OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.1-5.3; P = 0.0376), and ongoing beta-blocker treatment (OR = 4.2; 95% CI 1.8-9.8; P = 0.0011). All 31 patients with a fatal outcome received epinephrine in a titrated manner according to international guidelines. CONCLUSION: Obese males with a history of cardiovascular disease receiving ongoing beta-blocker treatment and undergoing surgery in an emergency setting were at high risk of a fatal outcome after NMBA-induced anaphylaxis. Some epinephrine-resistant cases may play a role in our high mortality rate. New therapeutic approaches need to be developed to treat these cases.

[Agranulocytosis related to fluindione: A case report]. / Agranulocytose à la fluindione: à propos d'un cas.

INTRODUCTION: While in most countries warfarin is the preferred anti-vitamin K, fluindione, a molecule with a prolonged half-life remains largely prescribed in France. Some of its side effects, including immuno-allergic complications, remain poorly understood. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old woman presented with a febrile severe neutropenia of immunoallergic mechanism with a favourable outcome associated with fluindione, introduced 25 days earlier for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: This rare side effect is a reminder of the importance of biological monitoring in the first weeks following the introduction of fluindione and key diagnostic elements and therapeutic aspects of iatrogenic agranulocytosis.

[Severe pseudouveitis associated with moxifloxacin therapy]. / Pseudo-uvéite sévère associée à l'utilisation de moxifloxacine.

INTRODUCTION: Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class, marketed in France since 2002. It is used primarily in the treatment of bacterial sinusitis and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. The purpose of this study is to report a possible severe ocular side effect following the systemic use of moxifloxacin. PATIENT AND METHODS: Case report of a patient who presented with the appearance of a severe acute uveitis after being treated with systemic moxifloxacin. Eleven days after initiation of moxifloxacin treatment, the patient developed simultaneous bilateral eye pain, pigment dispersion and diffuse iris transillumination. This case was further complicated by ocular hypertension. Etiologic investigations for other causes of the uveitis were negative. In particular, an anterior chamber tap was performed and PCR for herpes viruses (HSV, VZV, EBV, CMV) was negative. DISCUSSION: Drug-induced uveitis is relatively rare. The relationship between systemic fluoroquinolone treatment and the occurrence of uveitis has been considered "possible", according to World Health Organization criteria, in a recent retrospective analysis of 40 case reports. Moxifloxacin was suspected in 25 of these cases. The presence of both iris transillumination and pigment dispersion appears specific to the uveitis in question. CONCLUSION: It appears that practitioners prescribing moxifloxacin and ophthalmologists should be informed of this possible adverse effect, so that it may be quickly recognized, managed and reported.