Immediate reaction to ibrutinib amenable to oral desensitization

Although up to half of patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents develop hypersensitivity reactions to the same, desensitization protocols can induce temporary tolerance to allow patients to continue to receive first-line treatment. Approximately 25% of patients develop cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to ibrutinib, but there are no published management guidelines.

We describe the case of a 71-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who developed a delayed maculopapular rash with lip tingling and swelling following ibrutinib therapy.

We performed a novel 11-step desensitization procedure to ibrutinib allowing us to successfully induce tolerance against IgE-mediated symptoms in this patient.

As indications for ibrutinib use expand and more patients present with IgE-mediated symptoms, we expect that this protocol will provide benefit for many such patients.