Got a Pen for Allergen Immunotherapy? Lessons from Near-Fatal Anaphylaxis with Pulmonary Edema

Freerk Prenzel,1,2 Karl Nissler,3 Manuela Siekmeyer,1 Maike vom Hove,1,2 Gudrun Schleicher,4 Wieland Kiess,1 Tobias Lipek1,2 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany; 2Leipzig Interdisciplinary Center for Allergy (LICA), Leipzig, Germany; 3Department of Pediatrics, Sana Hospitals Leipzig Region, Borna, Germany; 4Pediatric Medical Practice, Rötha, GermanyCorrespondence: Freerk PrenzelDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Liebigstr. 20a, Leipzig 04179, GermanyTel +49 341 9726241Fax +49 341 9724119Email freerk.prenzel@uniklinik-leipzig.deAbstract: On our pediatric intensive care unit, we successfully treated a 10-year-old boy with severe pulmonary edema due to anaphylaxis after his last injection of a 3-year course of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). In view of the severity of the adverse event, we initiated a case analysis with all involved medical professionals. The evaluation revealed delayed administration of epinephrine due to dosing uncertainty and underestimation of severity. Consequently, all involved institutions established epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) in their emergency equipment. We suggest providing EAIs in every practice conducting AIT, as well as in pediatric emergency rooms and ambulances. We would like to remind readers of the risk of anaphylaxis, even on the last day of AIT.Keywords: epinephrine auto-injector, allergen immunotherapy, emergency equipment, house dust mite