HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO ETOPOSIDE

OBJECTIVE: To report a hypersensitivity reaction to etoposide occurrin g in a patient after 2 months of drug therapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 20-year -old man with a diagnosis of testicular carcinoma was treated with ble omycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP regimen). After dose 20 of etopo side, an exanthema was noted, which was attributed to etoposide. The p atient had received 19 doses of etoposide during the previous 2 months without any sign of an allergic reaction. Rechallenging the patient w ith etoposide from another batch resulted in recurrence of the exanthe ma. DISCUSSION: Both etoposide and its excipient (polysorbate 80) are suspected of causing hypersensitivity reactions. Although the exact me chanism of the hypersensitivity reaction is not known, it is believed to be of nonimmunogenic origin. CONCLUSIONS: With a lower rate of infu sion of etoposide and/or by premedication with antihistamines and/or c orticosteroids, hypersensitivity reactions to etoposide might be preve nted in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to this drug.