Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease

The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (대한천식알레르기학회)
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Anaphylaxis due to polyethylene glycol: A case report

Polyethylene glycol에 의한 아나필락시스 1예

  • Kim, Tae-Se (Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Dong-Chull (Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Byung-Jae (Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
  • 김태세 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 내과) ;
  • 최동철 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 내과) ;
  • 이병재 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 내과)
  • Received : 2017.10.26
  • Accepted : 2017.12.15
  • Published : 2018.09.30
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Abstract

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a major component of bowel preparation solution for colonoscopy. It has been recognized as a safe and effective osmotic laxative that is rarely immunogenic. We here report a case of anaphylaxis due to PEG. A 49-year-old female came to the outpatient clinic wanting to find the cause of skin rash, nausea and respiratory difficulty after ingesting bowel evacuant solution (Clicool). She had visited local Emergency Department at the time of event and was diagnosed with anaphylaxis. We performed skin tests with components of Clicool to identify the cause of anaphylactic reactions. The result showed a positive skin response only to PEG. In contrast, skin test done in the control showed no reactions to PEG. This is the first case that revealed PEG to be an exact cause of anaphylaxis after ingesting a bowel evacuant.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management

References

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