Return to content in this issue
A New Practical Desensitization Protocol for Oxaliplatin-Induced Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions: A Necessary and Useful Approach
Park HJ1,3, Lee JH1,3, Kim SR1, Kim SH3, Park KH1,3, Lee CK2, Kang BD2, Beom SH2, Shin SJ2, Jung M2, Park JW1,3*
1Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
3Severance Hospital Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Seoul, Korea
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2016; Vol 26(3)
: 168-176
doi: 10.18176/jiaci.0038
Background and Objective: Desensitization protocols for patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHSRs) have proven to be effective, but they are not widely used in clinical practice because of impracticalities such as high cost, long procedure duration, and a lack of trained personnel. We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of oxaliplatin-induced IHSRs and assess measures to protect against these reactions and to validate a new practical desensitization protocol.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 2640 cases of oxaliplatin IHSRs in 271 oxaliplatin users and prospectively used a newly designed desensitization protocol 32 times in 12 patients with hypersensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. The protocol consisted of increases in infusion rate every 15 minutes, regardless of the concentration of the chemotherapy agent in the infusion bags.
Results: Of the 271 patients administered oxaliplatin, 45 (16.6%) experienced IHSRs. Of 39 patients who experienced an IHSR but needed to continue oxaliplatin, 6 (15.4%) stopped treatment due to the reaction, and 33 (84.6%) continued despite the risk of further reactions. The new desensitization protocol was successfully completed in 12 patients (100%), but it was ineffective in 3 patients (all with a negative skin prick test), who experienced fever without urticaria.
Conclusions: Many patients who experience oxaliplatin-induced IHSRs are required to stop first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy or to continue without desensitization, with the associated risks. Our new desensitization protocol is practical and easy to use in clinical practice.
Key words: Chemotherapy. Cisplatin. Desensitization. Hypersensitivity. Oxaliplatin. Platinum. Skin test.