TY - JOUR AU - Buquicchi, R. AU - Boni, E. AU - Procoli, S. AU - Serviddio, G. AU - Ventura, M.T. PY - 2018/09/15 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Drug hypersensitivity cutaneous diseases in the elderly JF - JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS JA - Gerontology and Geriatrics VL - 66 IS - 3 SE - Clinical Observations in Geriatrics - Clinical Experiences and Case Reports DO - UR - https://www.jgerontology-geriatrics.com/article/view/89 SP - 158-162 AB - The worldwide increase of life expectancy, changes in immunological capacity, comorbidities and polytherapyare responsible for the increasing prevalence of geriatric drug related allergic skin diseases. In the elderly otherfactors contribute to the onset of these phenomena, such as changes in the structure of the skin and mucoustissues. The integrity of the epithelial barrier in old people is compromised by the loss of its constituents, thatpredisposes to alterations of the hydrolipidic film with dryness, xerosis and pruritus. Also at the skin level arefrequently found abnormal immunological reactions towards new antigens and a chronic inflammatory statethat predisposes to a response oriented towards the Th2 cytokinic pattern, allowing allergens to penetrateinto tissues. Nevertheless, in the elderly drug related allergic disorders, in particular at the skin level, are oftenunderdiagnosed and difficult to treat.Among the IgE mediated cases, urticaria and angioedema are frequent. However, there are also cell-mediatedmechanisms; in particular delayed type reactions to drugs often arise in the elderly for the reiterate use of topicalmedications (anesthetic, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory creams).A detailed anamnestic history is essential to establish the causal link between an adverse drug reaction andthe specific drug. Moreover, in some cases it is necessary the specific knowledge of the histological picture. ER -