Resumen de Analyzing hypersensitivity reactions to cytostatic drugs
María José Aguilella Vizcaíno, Susana Cortijo Cascajares, Ignacio García Escobar, A. Morales, José Miguel Ferrari Piquero
Cytostatic drugs can cause Hypersensitivity Reactions (HR), leading oncologists to discontinue the treatment, change it or find alternatives as desensitization protocols. The aim of this study is to analyse the HR to carboplatin, oxaliplatin, docetaxel, cetuximab, cisplatin, gemcitabine, temsirolimus and pemetrexed in a tertiary hospital setting. We retrospectively reviewed all adverse reactions that took place during chemotherapy infusion time from January 2010 to December 2011, and selected those consistent with a hypersensitivity reaction. We collected data relating to the patient, the drug responsible for the reaction, the HR and measures taken in each case. Data were processed by SPSS. Overall, 49 patients showed HR. Platinum-derived drugs were responsible for 75.6% of all HR, taxanes for 14.3% and monoclonal antibodies for 4.1%. Most frequent clinical manifestations were cutaneous (77.5%), gastrointestinal (14.3%), respiratory (24.4%) and cardiac (24.5%). 28.5% of patients continued on the same treatment but with a slower infusion rate and premedication was increased, 24.5% switched to another therapy or discontinued therapy and 47% received the same medication but following desensitization protocols. Drugs causing more HR are platinum drugs, followed by taxanes and monoclonal antibodies. Knowing these HR is important in order to manage them properly in the hospital setting. Desensitization protocols stand out as an alternative to continued treatment in these patients
