[Allergy to betalactamins. Diagnosis in vivo and correlations with tests in vitro (lymphocyte transformation and specific IgE) (author's transl)].

A comparative study of the results of skin tests and tests in vitro (lymphocyte transformation L.T. and R.A.S.T. for specific IgE) in 21 patients allergic to penicillin or penicillin-derivates revealed that tests in vivo are more sensitive and reliable than L.T. and R.A.S.T. This discordance needs future research for more valuable tests in vitro, such as specific histamine-release by leucocytes or determination of IgG4 reagins by R.A.S.T. procedure. A method of diagnosis of betalactamin hypersensitivity by skin tests, including penicilloylpolylysine, benzyl-penicillin, ampicillin and cephalosporin, is suggested; this method was experienced in 21 patients and 23 control subjects and proved to be safe and reproducible.