title: Rapid Drug Desensitization with Biologics: A Single-Center Experience with Four Biologics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) induces a temporary tolerance to biologics which induce hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). Data are limited regarding the use of RDD outside the USA. Our purpose was to report our data on RDD to rituximab, infliximab, cetuximab, and trastuzumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted as a retrospective chart review of patients with symptoms of HSRs to biologics. HSRs were classified as grades I, II, and III, based on their severity. Skin-prick tests/intradermal tests (IDTs) were performed with the implicated biologics. The 12-step RDD protocol was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group comprised 11 women and 6 men (mean age: 47 ± 11.7 years). Fourteen patients experienced HSRs to rituximab; 3 had HSRs to cetuximab, infliximab, and trastuzumab, respectively. HSRs to cetuximab, infliximab, and trastuzumab occurred during the first infusion and were all grade III. Twelve of the 14 patients with rituximab hypersensitivity had a reaction during the first infusion; 10 patients had grade II reactions and 4 had grade III reactions. Respiratory symptoms were the most frequent presentation of HSR. Skin tests with rituximab were performed on 10 patients; only 3 resulted in positive IDTs (with 1:100 dilutions) and the other tests were negative as were those performed with the other biologics. Of 96 RDDs, 89 desensitizations were performed with rituximab, 5 with cetuximab, 1 with infliximab, and 1 with trastuzumab. There were 12 (13.5%) breakthrough reactions, all of which were associated with rituximab and were less severe than the initial reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDD was found to be safe and effective in the largest case series of RDDs with biologics in our country, Turkey.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavbek
authors.forename: Reşat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kendirlinan
authors.forename: Pamir
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Çerçi
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altıner
authors.forename: Şadan
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Soyyiğit
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Çelebi Sözener
authors.forename: Ömür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Reyhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gümüşburun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products