Relevance of the diagnosis of hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic and biological agents: experience with drug provocation test.

Summary: Background. Evidence regarding drug provocation test (DPT) with chemo-therapeutic agents is scarce. The aim of our study is to describe the experience of DPT in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to antineoplastic and biological agents. Methods. Eight-year retrospective, observational, descriptive study of patients with a history of HSRs to chemo-therapy who were submitted to DPT. Anamnesis, skin tests (ST) and DPT were analyzed. Patients with a negative DPT were submitted to at least one regular supervised administration (RSA). Patients with positive DPT or HSR during RSA were offered rapid drug desensitization (RDD). Results. A total of 54 patients were submitted to DPT. The most common suspected drugs were platins (n = 36), followed by taxanes (n = 11). Most of the initial reactions were classified as grade II (n = 39) according to Brown's grading system. ST with platinum (n = 35), taxanes (n = 10) and biological agents (n = 4) were negative, except for one intradermal test with paclitaxel, which was positive. A total of 64 DPTs were performed. Eleven percent of all DPTs were positive [platins (n = 6), doxorubicin (n = 1)]. Of the 57 RSA with the culprit drugs, 2 were positive (platins). The diagnosis of hypersensitivity was confirmed by DPT/RSA in 9 patients. All patients with positive DPT/RSA presented HSRs of equal or less severity than the initial one. Conclusions. DPT followed by RSA allowed to exclude HSRs in 45 patients (55 culprit drugs). DPT before desensitization prevents non-hypersensitivity patients from undergoing RDD. In our study DPT was safe, all reactions were managed by an allergist.