title: Hypersensitivity reactions to biologic agents.
abstract: Biologic agents (BAs) are important therapeutic tools; their use has rapidly expanded and they are used in oncology, immunology, and inflammatory diseases. Their use may be limited, however, by adverse drug reactions. This article reviews the current literature on clinical presentation and pathogenic mechanisms of both acute and delayed reactions. In addition, procedures for management of BA-induced reactions, including preventive and diagnostic work-up, are provided. Lastly, this article summarizes the current knowledge of desensitization to several widely used monoclonal antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Viale Morgagni 85, Florence 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vultaggio
authors.affiliation: Drug Hypersensitivity and Desensitization Center, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: mcastells@partners.org.
authors.forename: Mariana C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castells
mesh_terms: D001685:Biological Factors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors
keywords: Antidrug antibodies; Biologic agents; Drug allergy; Hypersensitivity reactions; Immunogenicity