An updated review of the diagnostic methods in drug hypersensitivity reactions

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs), which produce symptoms from skin rash to anaphylaxis, are immune-mediated adverse reactions caused by drug formulations. The diagnosis of DHRs is challenging due to the lack of standardization for many drugs, and both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis hamper the follow-up treatment of patients. Therefore, improved methods for diagnosing patients with suspected DHRs are needed. In this review, we analyzed traditional methods used to diagnose DHRs as well as new diagnostic advances made during the last 2 years. None of the diagnostic methods is perfect, as each exhibits varying sensitivities to different types of DHRs. Overall, our analysis indicates that the accuracy of DHR diagnosis can be improved by obtaining a detailed clinical history, physical examination, in vivo and in vitro testing.