Desensitization to 5-fluorouracil.
Anaphylactic reactions to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are uncommon. We report a 40-year-old female with adenocarcinoma of the ovary who had two reactions immediately after being infused with 5-FU. The second reaction occurred despite prophylaxis with steroids and antihistamines. The patient was positive to 5-FU on puncture skin testing even though there was no previous exposure to the drug. We successfully desensitized her to 5-FU using a continuous intravenous protocol with sequential increments in the fusion rates and drug concentrations. This desensitization method may be useful to manage systemic reactions to 5-FU and other drugs.
Eppinger
T
T
Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Sperber
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012882:Skin Tests
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005472:Fluorouracil