Serum tryptase: an indicator of anaphylaxis following fluorescein angiography.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-1999
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal complication of fluorescein angiography. It is diagnosed by clinical signs. Serum beta-tryptase serves as a specific indicator of mast cell activation and of anaphylactic shock that can be detected by radioimmunoassay.
METHOD: This is a report on a 48-year-old woman who developed anaphylaxis during fluorescein angiography. This study investigates the role of beta-tryptase in anaphylactic shock resulting from intravenous fluorescein angiogram.
RESULTS: A serum sample of beta-tryptase collected at the time of an adverse reaction to fluorescein angiography was determined by radioimmunassay to be elevated above 20 ng/ml (normal level/ml). This indicates massive mast cell activation and anaphylactic shock.
CONCLUSION: This case is the first in which elevated levels of beta-tryptase in serum indicated that the systemic adverse reaction to fluorescein was mast cell dependent. Additionally, beta-tryptase levels can be assayed to detect anaphylactic reactions several hours after a precipitating event.
Volume
237
Issue
5
First Page
433
Last Page
434
ISSN
0721-832X
Published In/Presented At
Butrus, S. I., Negvesky, G. J., Rivera-Velazques, P. M., & Schwartz, L. B. (1999). Serum tryptase: an indicator of anaphylaxis following fluorescein angiography. Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 237(5), 433–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004170050256
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
10333112
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article