Anaphylaxis to dyes during the perioperative period: reports of 14 clinical cases.

Background: Vital dyes are widely used for lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant tumors, and reports of anaphylactic reactions are becoming more frequent.

Objective: Our aims were to describe specific clinical features of hypersensitivity reactions to Patent Blue (Guerbet, Roissy, France), results of the allergy workup, and their consequences for patient management.

Methods: We report a series of 14 clinical cases of dye-induced anaphylaxis recorded between 2004 and 2006 in 4 member centers of a network of French allergoanesthesia outpatient clinics.

Results: Reactions appeared to be relatively severe (6/14 grade III reactions). An average 30 +/- 6-minute delay was observed between dye injection and symptom onset. In 9 (65%) patients reactions were sustained for several hours, requiring prolonged continuous epinephrine infusion and transfer to an intensive care unit. Prick test results were positive in 8 patients. In 5 patients prick test results were negative, whereas intradermal test results were positive.

Conclusion: Anesthesiologists and allergologists must be aware of this specific risk and of the clinical characteristics of these reactions, which are usually delayed and long lasting.