[Anaphylactic complications due to suxamethonium].

A study was carried out on 36 patients who had presented with an anaphylactic reaction when they had been received anaesthetic induction agents including suxamethonium. After having been examined, they were assessed with various immunoallergic tests (skin tests, LHL, a search for specific anticholine IgE antibodies). They were compared with a group of 120 control patients with the same age, sex and professional characteristics. This study confirmed the part played by specific IgE antibodies in accidents involving suxamethonium. The specificity of the tests that could be used for the diagnosis was excellent. However, as far as sensitivity of the tests went, skin tests and LHL were more sensitive than the search for specific IgE antibodies. There was no statistical relationship between the limit for skin reactions and the degree of histamine release of the level of anticholine IgE antibody.