title: Acute hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy agents: an overview.
abstract: Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy agents are defined as unexpected reactions with signs and symptoms not consistent with known toxicity of these drugs. These reactions range from mild to life-threatening and are difficult to predict. Symptoms include flushing, nausea, difficulty breathing, back pain, hypotension and tachycardia. Hypersensitivity is commonly encountered owing to the increasing use of chemotherapy drugs in clinical practice. The pathogenetic mechanisms are not fully understood but they seem to vary between agents. Reactions to taxanes usually occur during the first few minutes of the first or second infusion, whereas acute reactions to platinum agents usually occur after multiple cycles of therapy. Basic principles that allow management and possible completion of the regimen should be followed. Certain protocols aim to prevent acute reactions by slowing the infusion rate and by administering steroid and histamine receptor antagonists. Skin testing and desensitization protocols have also been successfully used in case of hypersensitivity to various chemotherapy drugs. Knowledge of all available management options assists physicians in making the most appropriate decision regarding further treatment.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Dept of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, Greece.
authors.forename: Ekaterini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Syrigou
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.forename: Nektaria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makrilia
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaklamanos
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotanidou
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manolopoulos
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syrigos
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents