Is it possible to predict an NNRTI allergic rash? An answer, in part

[newt]

Is it possible to predict an NNRTI allergic rash?

In this thread I suggested sulfa allergy predicted a worse reaction to Sustiva and other NNRTIs, so from BETA's Selected Highlights from the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections: Drug Interaction & Side Effect Studies (200)

"Maria DeRisi, PharmD, of the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) presented some interesting findings about predicting an allergic rash from NNRTIs. Four hundred and thirty-six persons who had previously taken an NNRTI were included in this retrospective study.

Latinos had an overall 20% risk (2.6-fold increased odds ratio) of developing an NNRTI rash, when compared with any other race/ethnicity.

For all persons, a history of a sulfa rash increased the risk of an NNRTI rash to 28% (one in four chance, or 8-fold increased odds ratio). (Sulfa antibiotics [Bactrim, Septra] are used to treat or prevent PCP.) If someone had previously taken a sulfa antibiotic and did not have a rash, the risk of a rash after taking an NNRTI was only 5%.

Without any history of a sulfa rash, the overall rate in Blacks was 6%, and 10% in Whites.

Each of the following factors was not significantly associated with an increased risk of a rash: baseline CD4 cell count, gender, and specific type of NNRTI. This information should be useful for persons with HIV and their physicians in choosing an anti-HIV regimen.

An allergic rash is a common side effect in the NNRTI drug class, but usually does not require stopping the drug. Life-threatening rashes may occur very rarely."

- matt

[SoSadTooBad]

Guess I will consider myself lucky - major sulfa allergy, which I found out the hard way after my diagnosis.  That said, no issues with my NNRTI-based combo.