Lymphocyte transformation and radioallergosorbent tests in drug hypersensitivity.

An in-vitro lymphocyte transformation test was performed on 252 patients, some of whom were suspected to have hypersensitivities to antibiotics, aspirin, methyldopa, allopurinol, or halothane. Overall, the proportion of patients with clinically documented drug reactions who had positive tests was higher than the corresponding proportion of patients without such reactions. When results from individual drugs were compared, however, significant differences were found only with respect to antibiotics and aspirin. Extent of lymphocytic transformation did not correlate with severity or form of hypersensitivity. A radioallergosorbent test for penicillin-binding IgG and IgE was done on plasmas of 63 patients whose lymphocytes were tested against penicillin in the lymphocytic transformation test. The radioallergosorbent test and the lymphocyte transformation test results did not correlate, but levels of penicillin-binding IgG and IgE showed significant correlation. A greater number of patients with clinical hypersensitivity to penicillin had positive results by both the lymphocyte transformation test and the radioallergosorbent test than by either test alone. The clinical relevances of these tests are discussed.