Penicillin desensitization in allergic pregnant women with syphilis. Report of two cases.

Syphilis during pregnancy has a high risk of congenital transmission with disastrous fetal consequences. Penicillin (PNC) is the only effective antimicrobial for the treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Chilean guidelines do not consider desensitization to PNC in these women. We report two cases of pregnant women aged 32 and 23 years, with immediate allergy to PNC and syphilis who were safely and successfully desensitized using a four-hour intravenous protocol in the critical care unit and who subsequently received benzathine G PNC. An electronic survey was conducted among approximately 100 Clinical Pharmacists (CP) in the country. Of these, 16 answered and 13 reported having experience in drug desensitization, in at least five cases with PNC and none reported deaths or cardiorespiratory arrest. Desensitization to PNC can be carried out safely and in Chile, this alternative should be incorporated to the management of pregnant women with syphilis and immediate allergy to PNC, instead of using erythromycin.

Penicillin desensitization in allergic pregnant women with syphilis. Report of two cases / Desensibilización a penicilina en mujeres embarazadas alérgicas. Informe de dos casos

ABSTRACT Syphilis during pregnancy has a high risk of congenital transmission with disastrous fetal consequences. Penicillin (PNC) is the only effective antimicrobial for the treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Chilean guidelines do not consider desensitization to PNC in these women. We report two cases of pregnant women aged 32 and 23 years, with immediate allergy to PNC and syphilis who were safely and successfully desensitized using a four-hour intravenous protocol in the critical care unit and who subsequently received benzathine G PNC. An electronic survey was conducted among approximately 100 Clinical Pharmacists (CP) in the country. Of these, 16 answered and 13 reported having experience in drug desensitization, in at least five cases with PNC and none reported deaths or cardiorespiratory arrest. Desensitization to PNC can be carried out safely and in Chile, this alternative should be incorporated to the management of pregnant women with syphilis and immediate allergy to PNC, instead of using erythromycin.

La sífilis durante el embarazo tiene un alto riesgo de transmisión congénita con consecuencias desastrosas para el feto. La penicilina (PNC) es el único compuesto efectivo para el tratamiento de sífilis en una mujer embarazada.. En Chile, ante alergias de tipo inmediata, no se considera la desensibilización a la PNC en mujeres embarazadas por norma ministerial. Se comunican dos casos de mujeres embarazadas con alergia tipo inmediata y sífilis durante la gestación que fueron desensibilizadas a este compuesto con un protocolo endovenoso de 4 horas en la unidad de pacientes críticos, sin observar complicaciones, recibiendo posteriormente PNC G Benzatina. Se efectuó una encuesta electrónica a farmacéuticos clínicos del país que incluyó más de 100 profesionales. De ellos, 16 contestaron y 13 declararon poseer experiencia en desensibilización de fármacos, en al menos cinco casos con PNC y ninguno reportó muertes o paro cardiorrespiratorio. La desensibilización a PNC puede ser efectuada en forma segura en embarazadas con alergia de tipo inmediata a PNC que cursan con sífilis. En Chile se debería incorporar esta alternativa en el manejo de mujeres embarazadas con sífilis y alergia inmediata a PNC en lugar de solo considerar por norma el uso de eritromicina.