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Diagnosing, managing and preventing anaphylaxis: Systematic review

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Louise MichaelisORCiD

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Abstract

© 2020 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Background: This systematic review used the GRADE approach to compile evidence to inform the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology's (EAACI) anaphylaxis guideline. Methods: We searched five bibliographic databases from 1946 to 20 April 2020 for studies about the diagnosis, management and prevention of anaphylaxis. We included 50 studies with 18 449 participants: 29 randomized controlled trials, seven controlled clinical trials, seven consecutive case series and seven case-control studies. Findings were summarized narratively because studies were too heterogeneous to conduct meta-analysis. Results: It is unclear whether the NIAID/FAAN criteria or Brighton case definition are valid for immediately diagnosing anaphylaxis due to the very low certainty of evidence. There was also insufficient evidence about the impact of most anaphylaxis management and prevention strategies. Adrenaline is regularly used for first-line emergency management of anaphylaxis but little robust research has assessed its effectiveness. Newer models of adrenaline autoinjectors may slightly increase the proportion of people correctly using the devices and reduce time to administration. Face-to-face training for laypeople may slightly improve anaphylaxis knowledge and competence in using autoinjectors. We searched for but found little or no comparative effectiveness evidence about strategies such as fluid replacement, oxygen, glucocorticosteroids, methylxanthines, bronchodilators, management plans, food labels, drug labels and similar. Conclusions: Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition but, due to practical and ethical challenges, there is a paucity of robust evidence about how to diagnose and manage it.

Publication metadata

Author(s): de Silva D, Singh C, Muraro A, Worm M, Alviani C, Cardona V, DunnGlvin A, Garvey LH, Riggioni C, Angier E, Arasi S, Bellou A, Beyer K, Bijlhout D, Bilo MB, Brockow K, Fernandez-Rivas M, Halken S, Jensen B, Khaleva E, Michaelis LJ, Oude Elberink H, Regent L, Sanchez A, Vlieg-Boerstra B, Roberts G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Allergy

Year: 2021

Volume: 76

Issue: 5

Pages: 1493-1506

Print publication date: 01/05/2021

Online publication date: 02/09/2020

Acceptance date: 15/08/2020

ISSN (print): 0105-4538

ISSN (electronic): 1398-9995

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14580

DOI: 10.1111/all.14580

PubMed id: 32880997

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