Evaluation of the incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions in cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
Although the reported incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity is low, its occurrence is important to characterize because of potential fatal complications. The purpose of this study was to determine the current incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity in the ovarian cancer patients compared to other oncology patients and identify potential risk factors that may contribute to development of carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions.


METHODS
This was a retrospective chart review analyzing all hospital records at an academic tertiary oncology center between July 2002 and September 2003. Data collected included patient demographics, past medical histories, and detailed carboplatin administration information. Patients that had received carboplatin were identified from pharmacy dispensing records. Positive carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions were identified from the documentation provided in the patient medical record.


RESULTS
The incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity for all cancer patients compared to ovarian cancer patients receiving carboplatin at our institution was 2.6% and 7.9%, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors (P < 0.05) included prior carboplatin exposure and history of drug allergies. There was also a trend to suggest premedication with histamine1 (H1) and histamine(2) (H2) blocker decreases the risk of developing carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed a similar incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions to previous reports. However, we found that the higher incidence associated with ovarian cancer patients can be attributed to the prolonged carboplatin exposure or history of drug allergies. This is the first study to observe that the administration of H1 and H2 antagonists is associated with a decrease risk of carboplatin hypersensitivity reaction.
Navo
Marisa
M
Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC), Houston, TX 77230-1439, USA.
Kunthur
Anuradha
A
Badell
Martina L
ML
Coffer
Larry W
LW
Markman
Maurie
M
Brown
Jubilee
J
Smith
Judith A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin