Oral iron cutaneous adverse reaction and successful desensitization

Citation
N. Ortega et al., Oral iron cutaneous adverse reaction and successful desensitization, ANN ALLER A, 84(1), 2000, pp. 43-45
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease
Journal title
ANNALS OF ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
10811206 → ACNP
Volume
84
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
43 - 45
Database
ISI
SICI code
1081-1206(200001)84:1<43:OICARA>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Background: The oral administering of iron preparations sometimes produces adverse gastrointestinal effects. In contrast, cutaneous reactions are extr emely rare. Objective: We report a patient with several episodes of generalized pruritu s and erythematous maculopapular eruption after receiving oral compounds of iron and on whom desensitization with oral iron was attempted. Methods: We studied a female with microcytic anemia due to gynecologic bloo d loss who presented several episodes of cutaneous eruption after receiving oral compounds of iron. Skin prick-test and two simple-blind, placebo-cont rolled oral challenges were performed with various iron compounds, and fina lly desensitization with oral iron was carried out. Results: Skin prick-test and patch-test with iron preparations were negativ e. Two simple-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were performed and the patient began experiencing similar cutaneous symptoms. We started a dow desensitization protocol using increasing doses until the target amount of the drug was tolerated without adverse effects. The chronic administration of oral iron therapy once a day for 9 months sustained the desensitized st ate and the anemia disappeared. Conclusion: We present methods to effectively manage iron supply for a micr ocytic anemia patient with cutaneous reactions due to oral iron compounds, to avoid repeated transfusions, slow desensitization with oral iron was suc cessfully attempted.