[Hypersensitivity reaction and Chinese heparin].

Severe hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with bolus injection of heparin contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulphate, which has been shown to activate the plasma contact system. In this paper, we parallel the pathophysiology of these acute side effects with this of hypersensitivity reaction during hemodialysis or blood product transfusion in patients treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.