Etoposide-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Report of two cases

Two cases of hypersensitivity reactions following etoposide infusion are reported, occurring in patients not previously exposed to the drug. In both cases, bronchospasm and diffuse skin flushing were the associated clinical findings. The present experience does not confirm the previous report by O'Dwyer and Weiss, who inferred the existence of two distinct clinical patterns in such patients, with either bronchospasm or flush. Type I hypersensitivity must be regarded as a possible acute adverse effect of etoposide infusion therapy, but more research seems necessary to elucidate the pathophysiology of this phenomenon.