Carboplatin hypersensitivity in children. A report of five patients with brain tumors.
BACKGROUND
Carboplatin, which is used in the treatment of several childhood tumors, increasingly has been reported to cause hypersensitivity reactions, the majority reported in adults. Five cases of children with primary brain tumors who were treated with carboplatin and developed acute allergic reactions are presented.


METHODS
The clinical history of each patient is described, as is the schedule, cumulative dose, and number of infusions of carboplatin, type of reaction, and retreatment.


RESULTS
Four of the five patients had histologically proven low grade astrocytic tumors; three had juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, and one had a mixed oligoastrocytoma. One patient with neurofibromatosis type I had radiographically-defined bilateral optic nerve gliomas. Three patients had prior chemotherapy, one with cisplatin. All five patients developed hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria, facial erythema, and facial swelling after multiple infusions of carboplatin. Two were retreated with carboplatin after receiving antihistamines, but still developed a reaction. Carboplatin therapy was discontinued in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this report is to heighten awareness of this potentially serious complication of carboplatin in children so that potentially dangerous retreatment is avoided. As use of a weekly schedule of carboplatin in children with low grade gliomas increases, with planned therapy extending for more than 50 weeks, more hypersensitivity reactions are anticipated.
Chang
S M
SM
Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
Fryberger
S
S
Crouse
V
V
Tilford
D
D
Prados
M D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D016190:Carboplatin