Abstract
Background and objectives: Hypersensitivity reactions to anticancer drugs pose significant challenges in cancer treatment, possibly leading to treatment interruptions and impacting patient outcomes. Despite their clinical importance, data on the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions in Duhok and Iraq remain scarce. This study aims to determine the incidence rate of hypersensitivity reactions among patients receiving anticancer therapy.
Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 2,160 cancer patients receiving anticancer therapy at Azadi Hematology Oncology Center between January 25 and March 31, 2024, over a 9-week period, during which seven patients developed hypersensitivity reactions. Demographics, treatment regimens, and other data were collected. Statistical analyses were performed to calculate incidence rates and other descriptive statistics.
Results: The study reported a hypersensitivity reaction incidence rate of 0.32%. Platinum-based compounds were the most frequently implicated drugs. Symptoms were effectively managed with corticosteroids and antihistamines, resulting in symptom resolution in all cases. The affected population exhibited a male predominance (71.4%, 5/7), with a mean age of 56.5 years. Premedications were administered in 57% of cases (4/7). The most common clinical manifestations were shortness of breath (43%) and pruritus (29%). Fisher's Exact Test was used to compare symptom resolution between patients treated with Oxaliplatin, showing no statistically significant difference in outcomes at p < 0.05.
Conclusion: The study highlights a low incidence of hypersensitivity reactions among patients, likely attributed to routine premedication practices, with platinum-based drugs identified as common triggers.