[Effect of preliminary medication on oxaliplatin hypersensitivity].

ABSTRACT

Oxaliplatin therapy is a standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, and oxaliplatin hypersensitivity is one of its side effects that should be particularly considered. In the present study, we observed a decrease in the incidence of oxaliplatin hypersensitivity since the introduction of preliminary medication involving the administration of escalated doses of steroids and the use of antihistamine agents. From the medical economics perspective, although the costs of the preliminary medication were generated, those for the treatment of oxaliplatin hypersensitivity, which were higher than the total cost of the preliminary medication, needed to be generated for all patients. Introduction of preliminary medication decreased the overall cost, since the medication decreased the incidence of hypersensitivity. Therefore, preliminary medication was recognized to be effective from the perspective of medical economics. The preliminary medication we introduced contributed to a safe, cost-effective, and high-quality treatment for advanced colorectal cancer by preventing oxaliplatin hypersensitivity.