Journal
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 124, Issue 6, Pages 1259-1266Publisher
MOSBY-ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.09.009
Keywords
Allergy; rapid desensitization; adverse drug reaction; drug allergy; monoclonal antibody; anaphylaxis; hypersensitivity reaction; rituximab; infliximab; trastuzumab
Categories
Funding
- Ovations for the Cure
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Rapid desensitization, a procedure for graded drug administration, allows for the safe readministration of a medication after certain types of hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) and is indicated in cases in which there are no reasonable therapeutic alternatives. The use of rapid desensitization for HSRs to mAbs has not been validated. Objective: We sought to describe our experience with rapid desensitization to mAbs, including rituximab, infliximab, and trastuzumab. Methods: One hundred five rapid desensitizations were performed in 23 patients with a standardized 12-step, 6-hour protocol. Our approach to patient evaluation before desensitization is described. The severity, characteristics, and timing of both initial HSRs and HSRs during desensitization were determined by means of retrospective review of medical records. After a reaction during desensitization, patient-specific protocol modifications were made before each subsequent desensitization. Results: 104 of 105 desensitizations undertaken were successfully completed. We observed HSRs during 29% of desensitizations, including 27 mild reactions, 1 moderate reaction, and 2 severe reactions. Overall, reactions during desensitization were markedly less severe than initial HSRs, but reactions did recur in a minority of successive desensitizations. Conclusions: Rapid desensitization is a promising method for the delivery of monoclonal therapeutics after an HSR, but the possibility of a reaction remains with each desensitization. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009;124:1259-66.)
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available