Anaphylactic shock secondary to intravenous administration of folinic acid: a first report.
BACKGROUND
Folates, components of the B-complex vitamins, have numerous pharmacological effects. In oncology combining folates with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) enhances the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy in colon cancer patients. Folic acid has been rarely involved in adverse allergic reactions. To the best of our knowledge no anaphylactic reaction secondary to folinic acid (FA) administration has ever been reported before.


METHODS
An 80-year-old patient had adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer including FA and 5-FU and irinotecan as a second line agent after multiple metastases.


RESULTS
Following FA administration anaphylactic shock occurred. Diagnosis was made according to the French method of adverse reactions monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
Anaphylactic shock may be an adverse reaction of FA in patients receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer.
Benchalal
M
M
Oncology Department, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Poissy-Saint Germain, Poissy, France.
Yahchouchy-Chouillard
E
E
Fouere
S
S
Fingerhut
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin