[The Incidence and Management of Hypersensitivity and Infusion Reactions in an Outpatient Chemotherapy Center].

ABSTRACT

Hypersensitivity reactions(HSRs)are adverse events that are potentially caused by all anticancer agents. HSRs are unpredictable and can occur at any time, and prompt intervention is needed when symptoms occur. The types of symptoms and their degrees vary with the anticancer agent used and the number of chemotherapy cycles. Here, we evaluated the degree of HSRs and their frequencies in the outpatient chemotherapy center of Gunma University Hospital. Among 55,046 patients, 141 (0.26%)cases of HSRs and 70(0.13%)cases of infusion reactions were identified. Oxaliplatin and docetaxel conferred higher incidences of HRSs, whereas infliximab and rituximab conferred higher incidences of infusion reactions. The most common symptoms were skin reactions. HSRs to oxaliplatin were observed after a median of 7 cycles of chemotherapy, and the number of the patients developing HSRs was the highest during the second cycle of chemotherapy. The incidences of HSRs and the profiles of the anticancer drugs exhibiting higher frequencies of HSRs were similar to those in previous reports. The present study provides valuable information about appropriate management for HSRs depending on the anticancer agents used.