http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/serum-sickness-000149.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serum_sickness http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000820.

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Serum sickness
Introduction: Serum sickness is the name for symptoms that result from a delayed immune system response, either to certain kinds of medications or to antiserum (given after a person has bitten by a snake or to counter exposure to rabies, for example). Serum is the clear fluid part of blood. Serum sickness is similar to an allergy, in that the body mistakenly identifies a protein from the antiserum or medication as harmful and activates the immune system to fight it off. Today, the most common cause of serum sickness is the antibiotic penicillin. Serum sickness will usually develop within 7 - 10 days after initial exposure, but sometimes it can take as long as 3 weeks. If you are exposed again to the substance, serum sickness tends to develop faster (within 1 - 4 days), and only a very small amount of the substance may cause an intense response. Signs and Symptoms:

The first signs of serum sickness are redness and itching at the injection site. Other signs and symptoms include: Skin rash, hives Joint pain Fever Malaise (feeling unwell) Swollen lymph nodes Itching Wheezing Flushing Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping What Causes It?: Antigens, proteins the body mistakenly identifies as harmful, cause your immune system to produce antibodies. These antibodies bind with the antigens and build up on the layers of cells that line the heart, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and other body cavities. This causes inflammation and other symptoms of serum sickness. Serum sickness is a reaction similar to an allergy. Specifically, it is an immune system reaction to certain medications, injected proteins used to treat immune conditions, or antiserum, the liquid part of blood that contains antibodies that help protect against infectious or poisonous substances. See also: Immune response

Causes
Plasma is the clear fluid portion of blood. It does not contain blood cells, but it does contain many proteins, including antibodies, which are formed as part of the immune response to protect against infection. Antiserum is produced from the plasma of a person or animal that has immunity against a particular infection or poisonous substance. Antiserum may be used to protect a person who has been exposed to a potentially dangerous microorganism against which the person has not been

immunized. For example, you may receive a certain type of antiserum injection if you have been exposed to tetanus or rabies. This is called passive immunization. It gives you immediate, but temporary, protection while your body develops an active immune response against the toxin or microorganism. During serum sickness, the immune system falsely identifies a protein in antiserum as a potentially harmful substance (antigen). The result is a faulty immune system response that attacks the antiserum. Immune system elements and the antiserum combine to form immune complexes, which cause inflammation and other symptoms. Certain medications (such as penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa) can cause a similar reaction. Unlike other drug allergies, which occur very soon after receiving the medication again, serum sickness develops 7 - 21 days after the first exposure to a medication. Injected proteins such as antithymocyte globulin (used to treat organ transplant rejection) and rituximab (used to treat immune disorders and cancers) cause serum sickness reactions. Blood products may also cause serum sickness.

Symptoms

Fever General ill feeling Hives Itching Joint pain Rash Swollen lymph nodes

Note: Symptoms usually do not develop until 7 - 21 days after the first dose of antiserum or exposure to the medication. However, some people may develop symptoms in 1 - 3 days if they have previously been exposed to the substance.

Exams and Tests

The lymph nodes may be enlarged and tender to the touch. The urine may contain blood or protein. Blood tests may show immune complexes or signs of blood vessel inflammation.

Serum sickness in humans is a reaction to proteins in antiserum derived from a non-human animal source. It is a type of hypersensitivity, specifically immune complex hypersensitivity (type III). The term serum sicknesslike reaction (SSLR) is occasionally used to refer to similar illnesses that arise from the introduction of certain non-protein substances.[1] It was first characterized by Clemens von Pirquet and Bla Schick in 1906.[2]

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Causes Symptoms Treatment See also References

6 External links

[edit] Causes
Serum sickness can be developed as a result of exposure to antibodies derived from animals. These serums are generally administered to prevent or treat an infection or envenomation. When the antiserum is given, the human immune system can mistake the proteins present for harmful antigens. The body produces antibodies, which combine with these proteins to form immune complexes. These complexes can cause more reactions, and cause the symptoms detailed below. Serum sickness can also be caused by several drugs, notably penicillin-based medicines. This results in hypocomplementemia, a low C3 level in serum.

[edit] Symptoms
Symptoms can take as long as fourteen days after exposure to appear, and may include signs and symptoms commonly associated with allergic reactions or infections, such as rashes, itching, joint pain (arthralgia), fever, and swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), and malaise. Other signs include decreased blood pressure (hypotension) or even shock and an enlarged spleen, glomerulonephritis and proteinuria.
Envenomation is the process by which venom is injected into some animal by the bite (or sting) of a venomous animal. Many kinds of animals, including mammals (e.g., the Northern Short-tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda), reptiles (e.g., the King Cobra), spiders (e.g., Black widows), insects (e.g., wasps, honey bees and caterpillars), employ venom for hunting and for self defense. Most venoms are administered by biting the skin of the victim, but some venoms are applied externally, especially to sensitive tissues such as those that surround the eyes. In some reptiles, such as the Gila monster, venom in the saliva enters prey through bites of grooved teeth, but many animals have specialized organs such as hollow teeth (fangs) and tubular stingers that penetrate the prey's skin after which muscles attached to the attacker's venom reservoir forcibly squirt venom deep within the victim's body tissue. Sometimes death may occur as a result of bites or stings.