ABAI case studies
ABAI · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) is a conjoint board of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics, based in Philadelphia. It certifies physicians in the specialty of allergy and immunology and administers both initial certification examinations and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examinations. The ABAI case studies are 5 cases and about 2,632 words.
1Perioperative Anaphylaxis to a Neuromuscular Blocker in a Patient with Prior 'Unexplained' Reactions
A 44-year-old woman is scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. She reports two prior operations: a tonsillectomy at age 9 with facial swelling on emergence, and a cesarean delivery at age 31 with hypotension and diffuse urticaria 10 minutes after induction.
574 words, about 3 min2Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Refractory to Second-Generation Antihistamines
A 38-year-old man presents with 5 months of daily hives and intermittent lip swelling, no angioedema of the airway, and no identifiable trigger. He has been on cetirizine 10 mg daily for 3 months with partial control; he reports hives on most days and wakes 2-3 nights per week.
702 words, about 4 min3Child with Recurrent Wheeze, a 'Negative' Allergy Test, and Parental Pressure for Antibiotics
A 6-year-old boy has had 4 episodes of wheeze in the past year, each lasting about a week, each following a cold, and each treated with antibiotics by a walk-in clinic with partial improvement. Between episodes he is well and active.
484 words, about 2 min4Pregnant Patient with Penicillin Allergy Label Needing Group B Streptococcus Prophylaxis
A 31-year-old woman at 37 weeks' gestation is GBS-positive and requires intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Her chart lists 'penicillin allergy' from childhood: her mother reports a rash at age 4, no details, no hospitalization, no swelling, no breathing difficulty.
388 words, about 2 min5Adult with Recurrent Sinopulmonary Infections and Low Immunoglobulins: To Replace or Not?
A 29-year-old woman has had 6 courses of antibiotics in 18 months for sinusitis and two episodes of pneumonia, one requiring hospitalization. She has no history of severe or unusual infections, no opportunistic infections, and no family history of immunodeficiency.
484 words, about 2 min