title: Cross-reactivity between paclitaxel and hazelnut: a case report.
abstract: A 73-year-old Caucasian woman with metastatic bladder cancer developed hives, itching, difficulty in breathing, and general ill-feeling during the first 10 min of her first infusion of paclitaxel. Paclitaxel was discontinued and the symptoms resolved after intravenous diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone treatment. Upon discussion with the patient, she described the sensation as similar to her reaction to hazelnuts. The patient's only other allergy was to azithromycin, which presented as hives. A PubMed literature search revealed that paclitaxel is found in the components of the hazelnut tree and its nuts. While a nut-protein allergy cannot be ruled out, a cross-reaction between paclitaxel and hazelnuts is a possibility. Patients who describe an allergy to hazelnuts must be carefully observed while being treated with paclitaxel. The hazelnut allergy may not be a nut-protein allergy at all, but rather an allergy to the components of paclitaxel that reside in the hazelnut itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Karmanos Cancer Center, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, USA. bukaceld@karmanos.org
authors.forename: Denise G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Bukacel
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bander
authors.forename: Rami B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D031211:Corylus / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010940:Plant Proteins; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D006854:Hydrocortisone