Anaphylactic Shock After Aprotinin Reexposure: Time Course of Aprotinin-Specific Antibodies

We report a case of severe anaphylactic shock during a cardiac operation that occurred as a consequence of aprotinin readministration in the presence of preformed aprotinin-specific antibodies. Both immunoglobulin G (3 hours) and immunoglobulin E (5 minutes) antibody levels dropped early after the clinical event. Despite their possibly limited clinical significance, we still recommend the conductance of specific antibody screening tests before readministration of aprotinin. (Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:242–4)