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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

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Rapid drug desensitization in children: A single-center experience

Çağrı Torun Özel1, Aslı Kuzu Kuşaklı1, Azize Pınar Metbulut2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|March 9, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric rapid drug desensitization (RDD) is highly effective and safe for children with drug hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). This study shows over 99% success, making RDD a reliable option when other treatments fail.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Drug hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) in children often lead to essential treatment cessation.
  • Pediatric data on rapid drug desensitization (RDD) are limited, despite its importance for safe re-exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RDD in a pediatric population.
  • To analyze the outcomes of RDD across various drug classes in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 59 pediatric patients (0-18 years) undergoing RDD.
  • Reviewed 1978 RDD procedures using 62 protocols for 27 different drugs.
  • Analyzed demographics, HSR characteristics, premedication, and breakthrough reactions (BRs).

Main Results:

  • Over 99% success rate with 1977 out of 1978 protocols successfully completed.
  • Only one patient required treatment modification; 58 patients completed desensitization.
  • Breakthrough reactions (BRs) occurred in 0.6% of procedures, mostly mild-to-moderate and manageable.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric RDD demonstrates high efficacy (>99%) and a favorable safety profile.
  • RDD is a reliable therapeutic option for children with drug hypersensitivity when alternatives are unavailable.
  • This study represents one of the largest pediatric RDD series, supporting its clinical utility.
Abstract

Keywords:
breakthrough reactionschemotherapeuticsdrug hypersensitivityenzyme replacement therapiesimmunomodulatorspediatricsrapid drug desensitization

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