Retrospective study of hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic agents in a thoracic oncology service

Summary What is known and objectiveWith the increasing use of cancer chemotherapy agents, hypersensitivity reactions are commonly encountered. The allergic clinical symptoms are variable and unpredictable. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of hypersensitivity reactions and to assess the value of skin tests for platinum salts and pemetrexed in the treatment of patients with non‐small cell lung cancers or malignant pleural mesothelioma. MethodsA single‐centre retrospective study was performed for 2 years. Patients treated with the drugs of interest for an advanced or metastatic non‐small cell lung cancers or malignant pleural mesothelioma and who experienced hypersensitivity reactions symptoms were eligible for this study. Clinical symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions, population characteristics and administered chemotherapy regimens were identified. ResultsThe hypersensitivity reactions frequency was rare (1.2%) and concerned 17 patients in our study. Typical clinical features of immediate hypersensitivity reactions associated with treatment were observed for nine patients (anaphylactic reactions for three cases, angioedema and hypotension associated with asthenia and heat in one case, respectively, and other cutaneous symptoms in the remaining four cases). Skin tests were positive in three patients, but only for platinum salts. The outcome after reintroduction of a negatively tested platinum salt allowed us to calculate a negative predictive v...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research