title: Review of hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the characteristics and management of hypersensitivity reactions caused by antineoplastic agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a search in the Pubmed and EMBASE databases for the last 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost all chemotherapeutic agents have the potential to cause hypersensitivity reactions, but some groups have been associated with increased risk, such as platinum compounds, taxanes, asparaginase, monoclonal antibodies and epipodophyllotoxins. The clinical manifestations of these reactions are variable and unpredictable, including symptoms affecting the skin and the pulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal systems. The mechanism associated with their development is not yet fully understood. Diagnosis is based on patients' signs and symptoms and skin testing. The management of patients who suffer a hypersensitivity reaction to a chemotherapeutic agent varies with the severity of the reaction, the need to continue treatment, and the availability of alternative therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to a progressive increase in the use of chemotherapeutic agents an increased incidence of hypersensitivity reactions is to be expected. Desensitisation protocols are a noteworthy alternative that make it possible to re-initiate patients' therapy with the causative agent of the hypersensitivity reaction. Their use should be assessed individually, weighing risks and benefits.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. susana.cortijo@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortijo-Cascajares
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Cerezo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herreros de Tejada
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D005047:Etoposide; D001215:Asparaginase