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Carboplatin hypersensitivity in children. A report of five patients with brain tumors
Author(s) -
Chang Susan M.,
Fryberger Sarah,
Crouse Vonda,
Tilford David,
Prados Michael D.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19950301)75:5<1171::aid-cncr2820750518>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - carboplatin , medicine , surgery , neurofibromatosis , chemotherapy , hypersensitivity reaction , erythema , cisplatin , radiology
Background. Carboplatin, which is used in the treatment of several childhood tumors, increasingly has been reported to cause hypersensitivity reactions, the majority reported in adults. Five cases of children with primary brain tumors who were treated with carboplatin and developed acute allergic reactions are presented. Methods. The clinical history of each patient is described, as is the schedule, cumulative dose, and number of infusions of carboplatin, type of reaction, and retreatment. Results. Four of the five patients had histologically proven low grade astrocytic tumors; three had juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, and one had a mixed oligoastrocytoma. One patient with neurofibromatosis type I had radiographically‐defined bilateral optic nerve gliomas. Three patients had prior chemotherapy, one with cisplatin. All five patients developed hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria, facial erythema, and facial swelling after multiple infusions of carboplatin. Two were retreated with carboplatin after receiving antihistamines, but still developed a reaction. Carboplatin therapy was discontinued in all patients. Conclusion. The purpose of this report is to heighten awareness of this potentially serious complication of carboplatin in children so that potentially dangerous retreatment is avoided. As use of a weekly schedule of carboplatin in children with low grade gliomas increases, with planned therapy extending for more than 50 weeks, more hypersensitivity reactions are anticipated. Cancer 1995;75:1171–5.