Cortijo-Cascajares S, Jiménez-Cerezo MJ, Herreros de Tejada A. Review of hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents.
FARMACIA HOSPITALARIA 2012;
36:148-58. [PMID:
22484106 DOI:
10.1016/j.farma.2011.02.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2010] [Revised: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To review the characteristics and management of hypersensitivity reactions caused by antineoplastic agents.
METHOD
We conducted a search in the Pubmed and EMBASE databases for the last 10 years.
RESULTS
Almost all chemotherapeutic agents have the potential to cause hypersensitivity reactions, but some groups have been associated with increased risk, such as platinum compounds, taxanes, asparaginase, monoclonal antibodies and epipodophyllotoxins. The clinical manifestations of these reactions are variable and unpredictable, including symptoms affecting the skin and the pulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal systems. The mechanism associated with their development is not yet fully understood. Diagnosis is based on patients' signs and symptoms and skin testing. The management of patients who suffer a hypersensitivity reaction to a chemotherapeutic agent varies with the severity of the reaction, the need to continue treatment, and the availability of alternative therapies.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to a progressive increase in the use of chemotherapeutic agents an increased incidence of hypersensitivity reactions is to be expected. Desensitisation protocols are a noteworthy alternative that make it possible to re-initiate patients' therapy with the causative agent of the hypersensitivity reaction. Their use should be assessed individually, weighing risks and benefits.
Collapse