Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy

Background: Immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) complicate the treatment of patients with cancer. Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) is not a standard treatment option in Northern Europe as in Southern Europe and the US. Thus, in Denmark, allergists are not involved when cancer treatment...

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Main Authors: Trine Holm Rasmussen, Charlotte Gotthard Mortz, Per Pfeiffer, Nina Andersen, Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-04-01
Series:Acta Oncologica
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Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/43098
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author Trine Holm Rasmussen
Charlotte Gotthard Mortz
Per Pfeiffer
Nina Andersen
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
author_facet Trine Holm Rasmussen
Charlotte Gotthard Mortz
Per Pfeiffer
Nina Andersen
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
author_sort Trine Holm Rasmussen
collection DOAJ
description Background: Immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) complicate the treatment of patients with cancer. Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) is not a standard treatment option in Northern Europe as in Southern Europe and the US. Thus, in Denmark, allergists are not involved when cancer treatments are complicated by IDHRs. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate whether Danish patients could benefit from the implementation of an allergy work-up including RDD by investigating the magnitude of the problem with IDHRs in Danish antineoplastic drug therapy, in addition to describe characteristics of IDHRs, re-treatment strategies, and outcomes. Patients and methods: This prospective observational single-center study was conducted at a large university hospital. Patients were included over 17 months. Patients were interviewed during index reaction. Information on culprit drug, infusion procedure, and premedication was obtained, together with reaction phenotype and severity. After 3 months, information on re-treatment strategies and outcome were obtained from medical records. Results: In total, 126 patients experienced IDHRs during the study period. This corresponds to 2.5% of patients receiving antineoplastic drug therapy. Re-treatment, using increased premedication and/or decreased infusion rate, was attempted in 97 patients and tolerated by 69. However, 57 out of 126 patients (45%) discontinued treatment. This corresponds to 1.1% of patients receiving antineoplastic drug therapy. Patients with gynecologic cancers had a particularly high risk. Interpretation: IDHRs are infrequent in antineoplastic drug therapy, but due to the large number of patients with cancer, the number of IDHRs is significant. Patients discontinuing treatment could benefit from an allergy work-up including RDD.
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spelling doaj-art-ef03ff014c3b499fb9221c48e5d8c4be2025-08-20T03:53:27ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2025-04-016410.2340/1651-226X.2025.43098Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapyTrine Holm Rasmussen0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2761-8153Charlotte Gotthard Mortz1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-0829Per Pfeiffer2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2925-0586Nina Andersen3https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1284-2069Carsten Bindslev-Jensen4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8940-038XDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Centre for Anaphylaxis (ORCA), Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Centre for Anaphylaxis (ORCA), Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Centre for Anaphylaxis (ORCA), Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkBackground: Immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) complicate the treatment of patients with cancer. Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) is not a standard treatment option in Northern Europe as in Southern Europe and the US. Thus, in Denmark, allergists are not involved when cancer treatments are complicated by IDHRs. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate whether Danish patients could benefit from the implementation of an allergy work-up including RDD by investigating the magnitude of the problem with IDHRs in Danish antineoplastic drug therapy, in addition to describe characteristics of IDHRs, re-treatment strategies, and outcomes. Patients and methods: This prospective observational single-center study was conducted at a large university hospital. Patients were included over 17 months. Patients were interviewed during index reaction. Information on culprit drug, infusion procedure, and premedication was obtained, together with reaction phenotype and severity. After 3 months, information on re-treatment strategies and outcome were obtained from medical records. Results: In total, 126 patients experienced IDHRs during the study period. This corresponds to 2.5% of patients receiving antineoplastic drug therapy. Re-treatment, using increased premedication and/or decreased infusion rate, was attempted in 97 patients and tolerated by 69. However, 57 out of 126 patients (45%) discontinued treatment. This corresponds to 1.1% of patients receiving antineoplastic drug therapy. Patients with gynecologic cancers had a particularly high risk. Interpretation: IDHRs are infrequent in antineoplastic drug therapy, but due to the large number of patients with cancer, the number of IDHRs is significant. Patients discontinuing treatment could benefit from an allergy work-up including RDD. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/43098allergic reactionCancer chemotherapymonoclonal antibodiescheckpoint inhibitorpretreatmentRechallenge
spellingShingle Trine Holm Rasmussen
Charlotte Gotthard Mortz
Per Pfeiffer
Nina Andersen
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
Acta Oncologica
allergic reaction
Cancer chemotherapy
monoclonal antibodies
checkpoint inhibitor
pretreatment
Rechallenge
title Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
title_full Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
title_fullStr Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
title_short Prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
title_sort prevalence and management of immediate drug hypersensitivity observed during antineoplastic drug therapy
topic allergic reaction
Cancer chemotherapy
monoclonal antibodies
checkpoint inhibitor
pretreatment
Rechallenge
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/43098
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