Anaphylactoid reaction to corticosteroid: case report and review of the literature.

It has been suggested that corticosteroids can cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Thirty-five patients have been reported to have anaphylaxis-like reactions following exposure to hydrocortisone in topical and parenteral preparations. We describe a further case of a nonatopic woman who developed urticaria during intravenous infusion of hydrocortisone. A review of the literature reveals that IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity has not been definitely proven in any case. We conclude that the clinical manifestations occasionally experienced after receiving hydrocortisone are most likely pseudoallergic reactions.