Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, systemic reaction caused by mediators released from different cells. The underlying

mechanisms of anaphylaxis can be several with the key players being specific IgE, mast cells, and basophils. Co-factors are factors which when present during anaphylaxis makes the anaphylaxis possible, or more severe. The Augmenting factors like exercise, alcohol, infections, antacids and menstrual cycle; the concomitant diseases like asthma, mastocytosis and cardiac disease and cofactors like allergens, betablockers can be risk factors for anaphylaxis. The other major risk factors for severe anaphylaxis might be age, sex, pre-existing medical conditions and antihypertensive drugs. Other than cofactors; mediators, pathways and cell types can also serve as factors for anaphylaxis. Human anaphylaxis can be generally classified as immunologic, non-immunologic and idiopathic. The classification is based on factors and causes. The talk covers some examples of known cofactors for anaphylaxis and also the prevalence of co-factor augment anaphylaxis. Certain cases studies on wheat-dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, co-factor associated anaphylaxis and LTP Syndrome will be covered.