Immunochemical Mechanisms of Drug Allergy

Abstract

Evidence indicates that in order for a low molecular weight drug to induce antibody formation, it (or a degradation product) must become irreversibly bound to tissue proteins, generally through covalent bonds. The hapten-protein conjugates so formed induce antibody formation, and, in most instances, elicit the allergic reaction. The partial identification of the haptenic determinants of penicillin hypersensitivity has permitted considerable advances in determining the immunochemical mechanisms involved n penicillin allergy, and has permitted development of rational approaches to its clinical management.