title: Hypersensitivity reactions to the polysorbate contained in recombinant erythropoietin and darbepoietin.
abstract: The following case reports are of two patients who have developed hypersensitivity reactions to the red cell growth hormones, darbepoietin and erythropoietin. The subsequent skin testing and clinical course suggested that the cause of these reactions was due to the excipient polysorbate 80. This finding might have implications in the recent increase in the incidence of pure red cell aplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, New South Wales, Australia. richard.steele@ccdhb.org.nz
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limaye
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Suranyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005079:Excipients / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D005079:Excipients; D011136:Polysorbates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa