Atypical presentation of fever as hypersensitivity reaction to oxaliplatin

• Published in: Journal of oncology pharmacy practice Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 319 - 324
• Main Authors: Khurana, Arushi, Mitsis, Demytra, Kowlgi, Gurukripa N, Holle, Lisa M, Clement, Jessica M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-04-2016
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Colonic Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colonic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Fever - chemically induced; Fever - diagnosis; Humans; Male; Organoplatinum Compounds - adverse effects; hypersensitivity reaction; fever; Oxaliplatin
• ISSN: 1078-1552; 1477-092X
• DOI: 10.1177/1078155214558350

Oxaliplatin, a third-generation, platinum-based agent is widely used, most commonly in the FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) regimen, which is the first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma and adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colorectal cancer. Platinum-based products are well known for causing hypersensitivity reactions. Fever associated with oxaliplatin-hypersensitivity reactions typically follows a specific pattern. It usually starts during the oxaliplatin infusion or immediately after (within hours instead of days) and happens after several administrations (mean 2–25) with unpredictable clinical presentations. We report a case of oxaliplatin-induced hypersensitivity reaction manifesting as fever but with unusual presentation than the aforementioned features.