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Burches et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2019;5:63 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2019.012 Metastasis and Treatment

Original Article Open Access

A logarithmic rapid desensitization protocol: initial
experience in carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions

Enrique Burches , Jose-Alejandro Pérez-Fidalgo , Francisco Ferriols , Inés González-Barrallo , Andrés
2
1
3
2
Cervantes 2
1 Allergy Department, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valencia 46010, Spain.
2 Oncology Department, Hospital Clinico Universitario and INCLIVA Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain.
3 Pharmacy Department, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valencia 46010, Spain.
Correspondence to: Prof. Enrique Burches, Allergy Department, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 17 Valencia
46010, Spain. E-mail: eburchesbaixauli@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Burches E, Pérez-Fidalgo JA, Ferriols F, González-Barrallo I, Cervantes A. A logarithmic rapid
desensitization protocol: initial experience in carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2019;5:63.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2019.012

Received: 21 May 2019 First Decision: 21 Aug 2019 Revised: 21 Aug 2019 Accepted: 21 Aug 2019 Published: 28 Aug 2019

Science Editor: Godefridus J. Peters Copy Editor: Jia-Jia Meng Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Aim: Hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin are not an infrequent adverse event in ovarian cancer patients. However,
reintroduction of platinum-containing schedules is the standard of care in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.
Rapid desensitization is a procedure for gradual reintroduction of drug. It allows a safe administration of medications that
are beneficial for the management of patients after certain types of hypersensitivity reactions. It is indicated in cases in
which there are no reasonable therapeutic alternatives.

Methods: We performed a descriptive retrospective study of high-grade ovarian cancer patients with known carboplatin
hypersensitivity reactions that were treated with a 13-steps rapid desensitization protocol with 3 different solutions
and infusion rates. The procedure followed a mathematic model (gradual increases with a relationship between doses
following a geometric series) which is called logarithmic rapid desensitization protocol (LRDP). The aim was to describe
the safety of the LRDP in terms of number and severity of infusion reactions and the effectiveness in the rate of cycles
completely administered.

Results: Four different patients diagnosed with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer with a previous infusion
reaction were included. LRDP was administered in 19 different cycles. LRDP was administered safety in all 19 cycles, only
2 patients had a mild cutaneous reaction in 4 different cycles during LRDP (21.05%). The foreseen dose of carboplatin
was fully administered in all cycles.

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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