Characteristics and Risk Factors of Oxaliplatin-related Hypersensitivity Reactions

Shao, Yu-Yun; Hu, Fu-Chang; Liang, Jin-Tung; Chiu, Wen-Tzu; Cheng, Ann-Lii; Yang, Chih-Hsin

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60064-2

« Previous Next »Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 5 , Pages 362-368, May 2010

Characteristics and Risk Factors of Oxaliplatin-related Hypersensitivity Reactions

Yu-Yun Shao
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
Fu-Chang Hu
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Jin-Tung Liang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Wen-Tzu Chiu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Ann-Lii Cheng
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Chih-Hsin Yang
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Correspondence to: Dr Chih-Hsin Yang, Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan

Received 31 March 2009; received in revised form 16 August 2009; accepted 25 August 2009.

Background/Purpose

Hypersensitivity reactions during oxaliplatin infusion are a major problem associated with its use. In this study, we investigated the characteristics and risk factors of these events.

Methods

All patients who had received oxaliplatin in outpatient settings from January 2006 to March 2007 in a medical center were enrolled in this retrospective study. All the oxaliplatin infusions were reviewed. Manifestations of hypersensitivity reactions and clinicopathological variables were collected from medical records.

Results

Three hundred and eighty-three patients with 3648 oxaliplatin infusions were reviewed. Forty-seven patients (12.7%) developed hypersensitivity reactions, which occurred after a median of 10 infusions. The median time of onset from start of infusion was 40 minutes. Most presentations (90.7%) were mild to moderate, but rechallenge with oxaliplatin led to a high chance of further reactions (71.4%). Cutaneous symptoms were the most prevalent manifestation, followed by respiratory symptoms. With each repeated infusion, the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions increased. Higher oxaliplatin dose per infusion was an independent risk factor for such reactions.