Patient classification
Patients included were classified into two groups [10]: a) CRs, if
they experienced 3 or more episodes of cutaneous and/or respiratory
symptoms after the intake of at least 3 different non-chemically related
NSAIDs, including a strong COX-1 inhibitor (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA);
and b) SRs, if patients had at least two episodes after the intake of
the same NSAID and tolerance to a strong COX inhibitor (ASA).
CR patients were sub-classified into: i) NERD, if patients with
underlying rhinitis and/or asthma with or without nasal polyposis
reported respiratory symptoms (rhinitis, asthma and/or glottis edema)
after NSAID intake; ii) NECD, if patients with underlying CSU
experienced exacerbation of skin symptoms (urticaria and/or angioedema,
AE) after NSAID intake; iii) NIUA, if patients without underlying CSU
had urticaria and/or angioedema after NSAID intake; iv) blended
reactions, if patients had a combination of skin (urticaria and/or
angioedema) and respiratory symptoms (rhinitis, asthma and/or glottis
edema) after NSAID intake.
SR patients were sub-classified into: v) SNIUAA, if patients experienced
urticaria, angioedema, or anaphylaxis within one hour up to 24 hours
after NSAID intake; vi) SNIDR, in patients experienced cutaneous
manifestations with or without systemic involvement more than 24 hours
after NSAID intake [18].