Introduction:

Etoposide is widely used in pediatric chemotherapy. At the moment, there is conflicting data in the literature on the incidence of etoposide hypersensitivity. The aim of this study is to assess etoposide hypersensitivity incidence and to evaluate potential risk factors for hypersensitivity in pediatrics.

Methods:

Retrospective study of pediatric patients treated with etoposide since June 2013 until September 2020. Symptoms of hypersensitivity, grade of hypersensitivity reaction according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events guidelines and management of hypersensitivity reaction data were collected.

Results:

213 patients were treated with etoposide during the period of the study. The mean age was 6.8 (range 0.2-17 years), 58.7% were male. Doses administered ranged from 100-200 mg/m2 and from 2.5-6 mg/kg, median infusion rate was 55 (2-200) mg/h and median infusion concentration was 0.3 (0.2-0.5) mg/ml. Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 23 (10.8%) patients, 3 and 20 cases were classified as grade I and II respectively. All hypersensitivity reactions were successfully managed with medication and reduction of the infusion rate. No statistical significant association between the variables collected and the apparition of hypersensitivity reactions was found.

Conclusions:

The incidence of hypersensitivity reaction was higher than the described in the summary of products characteristics. All reactions were mild being resolved by standard treatment.

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