ABSTRACT
Pulmonary manifestations of drugs occur in various forms, and one of the most significant effects that may need urgent medical attention is bronchospasm. Drug-induced bronchospasm is a common symptom that is triggered by various drugs. The human airways consist of the trachea and dichotomously dividing bronchi which undergo branching for 20–23 generations. The autonomic nervous system influences many aspects of the airway function, including airway smooth muscle tone, airway secretions, blood flow, epithelial cell function, mediator release and migration of inflammatory cells. Drug-induced bronchospasm is common in certain groups and depends on patient factors and drug-related factors. Immunoglobulin E-mediated drug reactions have been studied extensively and the pathophysiological processes that trigger these reactions have been well characterized. The hapten hypothesis circumvents the blindness of the immune system to low-molecular-weight substances by coupling with a macromolecular carrier. Allergy to ß-lactam drugs is frequently reported, and in particular penicillin allergy.
