Hypersensibilité aux sels de platine et aux taxanes : intérêt des tests cutanés et des inductions de tolérance

Single center experience with more than 600 drug desensitization in Colombia

Background

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) have a significant impact on both, patient and their treating physicians; it is considered a public health concern. The history of allergy to drugs, limits therapeutic options and will lead to the use of more expensive and potentially less effective options. Drug desensitization (DD) is considered as a procedure with a positive impact on the prognosis of the patient's disease. The objective of this study is to describe the experience with a substantial number of drugs desensitization in a fourth level center in Cali, Colombia.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted. Patients with DHRs who underwent a standardized institutional DD protocol, between March of 2012 and May of 2023, were included.

Results

Two hundred forty-one patients were included. The median age was 47.8 years (4-88). One hundred fifty-six (64.7%) were women, including three who were pregnant. A total of 641 DDs were performed. The most frequent groups of drugs for which the desensitization was performed were monoclonal antibodies in 83 patients (34.4%), chemotherapeutic agents in 53 (21.6%), NSAIDs in 44 (18.2%), and antibiotics in 42 (17.4%). Eighty-seven patients (36.1%) experienced hypersensitivity to the culprit drug on first exposure, while 154 (63.9%) exhibited reactions during subsequent cycles. The main clinical presentation that gave rise to desensitization was anaphylaxis in 125 patients (51.8%), followed by cutaneous symptoms in 106 patients (44%). The predominant observed endophenotype was type 1 in 188 patients (78.3%), followed by mixed type in 46 patients (19.2%). Breakthrough reactions were observed in 50 patients (20.7%). Tolerance to DD was achieved in 636 of the procedures (99.2%), allowing the continuity of treatment of choice for the underlying disease.

Conclusions

Most desensitized patients were women with type I reactions. Monoclonal antibodies were the most frequent culprit drugs. DD in patients with DHRs is a useful, safe and effective procedure. The administration of the implicated drug had a positive impact on the course of the disease in these patients.

Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy: an EAACI Position Paper

Chemotherapeutic drugs have been widely used in the treatment of cancer disease for about 70 years. The development of new treatments has not hindered their use, and oncologists still prescribe them routinely, alone or in combination with other antineoplastic agents. However, all chemotherapeutic agents can induce hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), with different incidences depending on the culprit drug. These reactions are the third leading cause of fatal drug-induced anaphylaxis in the United States. In Europe, deaths related to chemotherapy have also been reported. In particular, most reactions are caused by platinum compounds, taxanes, epipodophyllotoxins and asparaginase. Despite their prevalence and relevance, the ideal pathways for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these reactions are still unclear, and practice remains considerably heterogeneous with vast differences from center to center. Thus, the European Network on Drug Allergy and Drug Allergy Interest Group of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology organized a task force to provide data and recommendations regarding the allergological work-up in this field of drug hypersensitivity reactions. This position paper aims to provide consensus on the investigation of HSRs to chemotherapeutic drugs and give practical recommendations for clinicians that treat these patients, such as oncologists, allergologists and internists. Key sections cover risk factors, pathogenesis, symptoms, the role of skin tests, in vitro tests, indications and contraindications of drug provocation tests and desensitization of neoplastic patients with allergic reactions to chemotherapeutic drugs. Statements, recommendations and unmet needs were discussed and proposed at the end of each section.

Successful oxaliplatin desensitization protocol in a patient with colorectal metastatic cancer

INTRODUCTION

Platinum compounds are frequently used for the treatment of colorectal cancer as initial chemotherapy. Oxaliplatin is a third-generation platinum used for the treatment of stage III colorectal cancer and is associated with hypersensitivity reactions. The incidence of hypersensitivity reaction is approximately 12%, with 1-2% of patients developing moderate to severe reactions.

CASE REPORT

A 54-year-old male patient with stage III B colon cancer was diagnosed and chemotherapy with oxaliplatin was indicated by the oncology service. Within 20 min of the first cycle of oxaliplatin, he developed dyspnea, laryngeal spam, foreign body sensation in the throat, nausea, and diarrhea; therefore, the infusion of oxaliplatin was suspended, and intramuscular epinephrine was administered and intravenous hydrocortisone along with chlorpheniramine with adequate resolution of symptoms.Management and outcome: Intradermal skin test performed at the concentration of 5 mg/ml (dilution 1:100) was positive. Due to the symptoms presented we decided to perform desensitization to oxaliplatin (total dose: 250 mg) with three bags-12 steps protocol with an initial concentration dose of 1/100 of the total dose in a course of 5.56 h with no hypersensitivity reactions.

DISCUSSION

Approximately 50% of patients who are exposed to oxaliplatin may have hypersensitivity despite premedication. Desensitization protocol induces tolerance to a drug temporarily and is dependent on continuous exposure.

Severe hypersensitivity reactions to platinum compounds post-pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC): first literature report

BACKGROUND

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) shows encouraging results for patients with unresectable peritoneal metastasis. Several reports demonstrated the safety of the procedure combined with systemic chemotherapy, with a low rate of complication. The aim of this study is to report severe hypersensitivity reactions to platinum compounds (SHRPC) during PIPAC procedures.

METHODS

All patients who underwent PIPAC for non-resectable PC in Lyon Sud University hospital were included in a prospective institutional database. All patients who presented a SHRPC after PIPAC were included in our analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-two patients underwent 383 PIPAC procedures between December 2015 and December 2017. oxaliplatin's and cisplatin-doxorubicin's protocols were used in 71 and 312 PIPAC, respectively. Four patients (3%) developed SHRPC; two patients (2.8%) after oxaliplatin and two patients (0.6%) after cisplatin-doxorubicin protocols. SHRPC occurred during the 6th PIPAC with cisplatin-doxorubicin protocol and during 2nd and 3rd PIPAC of the oxaliplatin protocol. Three events appeared within 15 min and one event occurred 50 min following nebulization. All the SHRPC have been managed successfully without any complication.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of SHRPC after PIPAC. The physician must constantly keep this rare but life-threatening complication in mind, especially after repeated PIPAC administration or previous platinum-based systemic chemotherapy.