Clinical Quiz: Diagnosis and Biomarkers in Anaphylaxis

Author(s):

Key Takeaways

The 2023 update highlights the role of biomarkers, like tryptase, in diagnosing anaphylaxis, alongside clinical diagnosis.
Revised recommendations address new diagnoses, tryptase level definitions, and symptom recognition in young children.
Individualized risk assessment and shared decision-making are crucial for effective anaphylaxis management.
A quiz was developed to assess understanding of diagnostic criteria and the impact of these updates on clinical practice.

Test your knowledge of the 2023 Anaphylaxis Update from the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, focusing on diagnoses and biomarkers!

Credit: HCPLive

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that requires prompt recognition and intervention. While clinical diagnosis remains paramount, recent advancements have highlighted the role of specific biomarkers in confirming and assessing anaphylaxis.

The 2023 update to the AAAAI’s Practice Parameter on Anaphylaxis provides updated clinical recommendations on recognizing anaphylaxis across diverse clinical presentations and discusses the utility of biomarkers such as tryptase in aiding diagnosis. This review served as a high-level summary of the 2023 practice parameter with evidence uncovered since the 2015 practice parameter.

Some of the updates in the practice parameters focused on new and evolving diagnoses of anaphylaxis, the rules for defining elevated tryptase levels, and the recognition of signs and symptoms for infants and toddlers. The writing committee suggested that risk factors for anaphylaxis should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with patient counseling and shared decision-making essential to support patients’ treatment decisions.

In our first quiz focused on these updates, the HCPLive editorial staff aims to assess your understanding of anaphylaxis diagnostic criteria, the role of laboratory markers, and how these updates influence clinical practice.

Question 1 (True/False): Epinephrine administration can be used as a diagnostic criterion for anaphylaxis.

Editor’s note: This quiz was composed with the assistance of AI tools.

References

Wang J, Lieberman JA, Wallace DV, Waserman S, Golden DBK. Anaphylaxis in Practice: A Guide to the 2023 Practice Parameter Update. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024;12(9):2325-2336. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2024.06.036