Type 1 Ig-E mediated allergy to human insulin, insulin analogues and beta-lactam antibiotics.

Insulin, a crucial therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus, has been rarely associated with hypersensitivity events. We present a 69-year-old type-2 diabetic patient with urticariform lesions on the sites of subcutaneous injection of insulin. The patient denied any known allergies, except for an unspecific cutaneous reaction after intramuscular penicillin administration in childhood. Prick tests revealed positive reactions to all tested human insulins and insulin analogues. Serum IgE levels were above normal range and RAST tests were positive for human, bovine and porcine insulins, as well as beta-lactams. Type 1 IgE-mediated allergy to insulin analogues demands a prompt diagnosis and represents a significant therapeutic challenge in diabetic patients.

Type 1 Ig-E mediated allergy to human insulin, insulin analogues and beta-lactam antibiotics / Hipersensibilidade imediata a insulina humana, análogos de insulina e a antibióticos beta-lactâmicos

Insulin, a crucial therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus, has been rarely associated with hypersensitivity events. We present a 69-year-old type-2 diabetic patient with urticariform lesions on the sites of subcutaneous injection of insulin. The patient denied any known allergies, except for an unspecific cutaneous reaction after intramuscular penicillin administration in childhood. Prick tests revealed positive reactions to all tested human insulins and insulin analogues. Serum IgE levels were above normal range and RAST tests were positive for human, bovine and porcine insulins, as well as beta-lactams. Type 1 IgEmediated allergy to insulin analogues demands a prompt diagnosis and represents a significant therapeutic challenge in diabetic patients.

A insulina é um agente indispensável para o controlo da diabetes mellitus. Os efeitos adversos da sua administração, em particular fenómenos de hipersensibilidade, são raros. Apresentamos um doente de 69 anos, diabético do tipo 2, com episódios recorrentes de lesões urticariformes nos locais de administração subcutânea de insulina. Negava alergias medicamentosas, à excepção de reacção não especificada na infância após penicilina intramuscular. Foram realizados testes cutâneos por puntura (prick tests) com diversos tipos de insulina humana e análogos, todos com reacções positivas, associando elevação dos níveis de IgE sérica e provas RAST positivas para as insulinas humana, bovina e porcina e para os antibióticos beta-lactâmicos. A alergia a análogos de insulina exige um diagnóstico precoce, originando um desafio terapêutico importante no doente diabético.

Adverse cutaneous reactions to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors: a study of 14 patients.

BACKGROUND: Cetuximab and erlotinib, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, often cause peculiar adverse cutaneous reactions. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate adverse cutaneous reactions and their management in patients undergoing treatment with cetuximab and erlotinib. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March/2005 and September/2009, we observed 14 patients with a mean age of 59.6 years undergoing treatment with cetuximab (7) or erlotinib (7), due to lung(10) or colorectal cancer (4). We evaluated the interval between introduction of the drug and onset of symptoms, treatment response, and the clinical pattern of evolution of the cutaneous reaction retrospectively. RESULTS: Twelve patients presented papular-pustular eruption typically affecting the face, chest and back, which appeared in average 13.5 days after starting the drug treatment. The patients underwent oral treatment with minocycline or doxycycline and topical treatment with metronidazole, benzoyl peroxide and/or corticosteroids. All patients showed improvement of the lesions. Five patients presented periungual pyogenic granulomas, which were associated with paronychia in 4 cases, after an average of 8 weeks of treatment. There was improvement of the lesions with topical treatment (antibiotics, corticosteroids and antiseptics). Xerosis was observed in some patients. Other less frequent adverse side effects such as telangiectasia and angiomas, hair and eyelash alterations, and eruptive melanocytic nevi were also described. Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor was maintained in most patients. CONCLUSION: The increasing use of these targeted therapies requires knowledge of their adverse cutaneous side effects to ensure timely intervention in order to allow the continuation of the therapy.

Reacções cutâneas adversas aos inibidores do receptor do factor de crescimento epidérmico: estudo de 14 doentes / Adverse cutaneous reactions to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors: a study of 14 patients

FUNDAMENTOS: O cetuximab e o erlotinib, inibidores do receptor do factor de crescimento epidérmico, provocam frequentemente reacções cutâneas adversas peculiares. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar do ponto de vista clínico-evolutivo as reacções cutâneas adversas e avaliar a sua abordagem terapêutica. METODOLOGIA: Entre março/2005 e setembro/2009 foram seguidos 14 doentes com idade média de 59,6 anos, em tratamento com cetuximab (7) ou erlotinib (7), por neoplasia pulmonar (10) ou colorrectal (4). Retrospectivamente foi avaliado o padrão clínico evolutivo de reacção cutânea, o intervalo entre a introdução do fármaco e o início dos sintomas e a resposta ao tratamento. RESULTADOS: Doze doentes apresentaram erupção papulopustulosa predominantemente na face, decote e dorso, em média 13,5 dias após o início do fármaco. Efectuaram tratamento oral com minociclina ou doxiciclina e tópico com metronidazol, peróxido de benzoílo e/ou corticoide. Ocorreu melhoria das lesões em todos os doentes. Cinco doentes, em média oito semanas após o início da terapia, apresentaram granulomas piogénicos periungueais, em quatro casos associados a paroníquia, melhorados com tratamento tópico (antibióticos, corticoides e antissépticos). Observou-se xerose em alguns doentes e, de forma isolada, outros efeitos adversos, como telangiectasias e angiomas, alterações dos cabelos e cílios e nevos melanocíticos eruptivos. Na maioria dos doentes, a terapêutica com o inibidor do receptor do factor de crescimento epidérmico foi mantida. CONCLUSÃO: Com o crescente uso destas terapêuticas-alvo, torna-se obrigatório reconhecer e tratar os seus efeitos cutâneos adversos, assegurando uma intervenção atempada de forma a permitir a manutenção desta terapêutica.

BACKGROUND: Cetuximab and erlotinib, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, often cause peculiar adverse cutaneous reactions. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate adverse cutaneous reactions and their management in patients undergoing treatment with cetuximab and erlotinib. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March/2005 and September/2009, we observed 14 patients with a mean age of 59.6 years undergoing treatment with cetuximab (7) or erlotinib (7), due to lung(10) or colorectal cancer (4). We evaluated the interval between introduction of the drug and onset of symptoms, treatment response, and the clinical pattern of evolution of the cutaneous reaction retrospectively. RESULTS: Twelve patients presented papular-pustular eruption typically affecting the face, chest and back, which appeared in average 13.5 days after starting the drug treatment. The patients underwent oral treatment with minocycline or doxycycline and topical treatment with metronidazole, benzoyl peroxide and/or corticosteroids. All patients showed improvement of the lesions. Five patients presented periungual pyogenic granulomas, which were associated with paronychia in 4 cases, after an average of 8 weeks of treatment. There was improvement of the lesions with topical treatment (antibiotics, corticosteroids and antiseptics). Xerosis was observed in some patients. Other less frequent adverse side effects such as telangiectasia and angiomas, hair and eyelash alterations, and eruptive melanocytic nevi were also described. Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor was maintained in most patients. CONCLUSION: The increasing use of these targeted therapies requires knowledge of their adverse cutaneous side effects to ensure timely intervention in order to allow the continuation of the therapy.