Hypersensitivity Reactions to Platinum Based Drugs in NSCLC – When and What?

Abstract

Platinum based chemotherapeutic agents like carboplatin and cisplatin are highly recommended drugs in ovarian cancers and now has become an integral part of adjuvant chemotherapy regimen in lung cancer patients. Hypersensitivity reactions developing immediately or a few days later have been sporadically reported in many literatures which included both ovarian and lung cancer patients. Knowledge and preparedness to tackle these adverse reactions which may also be life threatening at times is essential for the care givers. This case also very typically suffered from hypersensitivity reactions upon repeated administration of carboplatin which was effectively tackled by anti-allergic medications and the treatment could be completed by timely intervention.