(Turkey) Acute infusion reactions to chemotherapeutic drugs: a single institute experience.

 Blogger's Note:  10.8% is rare?? (severe reactions/study of 2213 patients)

Abstract

"The severity of reactions was determined in accordance with NCI toxicity criteria."

Results: Of the 2213 patients receiving chemotherapy during the study period, 138 (62%) developed an infusion reaction to the treatment. Among 138 patients most commonly treated types of carcinoma included breast (39.2%), lung (17.8%), colorectal (10%), and ovarian (8.5%) cancers. Docetaxel administration resulted in the largest number of infusion reactions, though most reactions were mild to moderate and did not require the cessation of treatment. Patients with mild to moderate reactions (89.2%) were able to continue treatment, while those who developed severe reactions (10.8%) could not continue treatment with the same agent.  



 Conclusion: Although severe reactions are rare, the incidence of mild to moderate reactions against taxanes, platinum compounds, and monoclonal antibodies is quite high. Clinical symptoms do not vary widely among the agents, though the onset time of symptoms does vary. While reactions against platinum agents were of type 1 anaphylactic reactions, reactions against taxanes and monoclonal antibodies during the first infusion and in the following minutes suggest the activation of different mechanisms.