Hypersensitivity Reactions to Monoclonal Antibodies in Children

Successful Treatment Using Etanercept in a Patient with Enthesitis-Related Arthritis Who Had Late Allergic Reaction to Adalimumab

Background: Biological agents are considered important therapies and are increasingly used in the treatment of a range of rheumatological and inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the prevalent use of these treatments has been associated with increased incidence of drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions (HSR). Case Presentation: A 15-year-old patient with enthesitis-related arthritis developed late HSR after the use of adalimumab. Consequently, etanercept was used as an alternative treatment. Etanercept was administered subcutaneously through a single dose without any reaction upon examination using skin tests (skin prick test, intradermal test, and patch test) against likely cross-reactions given that both adalimumab and etanercept were anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Conclusions: Currently, TNF-α inhibitors find widespread use. Caution is required against HSR reactions, including systemic or local injection site reactions, although they are generally considered safe to use.

Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions to Biologic Drugs in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

INTRODUCTION

The increased use of biologic drugs (BDs) may lead to an increase in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (I-HSRs) in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to assess I-HSRs to BDs in pediatric IBD, examining frequency, clinical features, management, and associated risk factors.

METHODS

All children diagnosed with IBD at our institution between January 1, 2006, and August 1, 2023, and who developed I-HSRs related to any BD were included in the study.

RESULTS

In a study of 197 pediatric IBD patients, 61 used BD. Among these, 52.4% were male, with a median diagnosis age of 145 months (13-215). Out of a total of 1,679 administrations, 6 patients developed I-HSRs (5 with infliximab, 1 with adalimumab), resulting in a frequency of 9.8% per patient and 0.36% per administration. Of these, 66.7% were cases of Type 1 HSRs (skin test positivity n = 1), while the rest were infusion-related reactions (anti-drug antibody positivity n = 4), all of which were mild to moderate in severity. In the age and gender-adjusted logistic regression model, the presence of any comorbid allergic disease was significantly associated with the occurrence of I-HSR (aOR = 8.35; 95% CI = 1.24-56.38; p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

The frequency of I-HSRs to BDs in children with IBD is not rare but not severe in the long term. The presence of any comorbid allergic disease is a risk factor for the development of I-HSRs to BDs.

Risk factors for drug hypersensitivity reactions in children

Drug hypersensitivity reactions are common in children. Risk factors predisposing to IgE-mediated drug allergies and delayed drug reactions are a matter of debate. Gender, age, previous reactions to the same drug or to another drug, reduced drug metabolism, chronic diseases, polypharmacy, drug doses are linked with the onset of hypersensitivity reactions in some children. Novel advances in genetic polymorphisms can rapidly change the approach to the prevention of reactions since gene testing can be a useful screening test for severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Viral infections may act as cofactors in susceptible individuals. Polypharmacy, high doses, repeated doses and parental route of administration are also risk factors. Clinicians should take into account risk factors to allow the risk-benefit balance to be maintained.

Immune Reactions in Major Types of Oncological Treatment

In recent years, there has been a noticeable development in oncological treatment, including chemotherapy and biological treatment. Despite their significant effectiveness, they are not free from side effects, such as allergic and dermatological reactions. These reactions can vary in severity and outcome, including potential death. Examples, among others, are type I-IV hypersensitivity reactions of various origins and skin reactions including rashes, itching and redness, but also severe cutaneous syndromes. Due to the therapy used, these may include Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. In some cases, it is necessary to interrupt therapy, which may result in a poorer outcome and shorten the patient's survival. This paper reviews various types of research documents published since 2016. It aims to systematize the latest knowledge and highlight the need for further research into ways to avoid adverse reactions.

Home Immunization with Palivizumab-A Randomized Pilot Study Describing Safety Aspects and Parents' Preferences

Among prematurely born infants and newborns with chronic conditions, a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection may cause (re-)admission and later respiratory complications. Therapeutic protection is possible with monthly injections of a specific monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, during RSV season. Standard care is giving up to five injections in clinic-based settings. Immunization at home could be an alternative to standard care for vulnerable infants to reduce the number of revisits and associated risk of RSV infection. The aim of this randomized pilot trial was to evaluate safety aspects and explore parents' preferences of home versus hospital immunization with palivizumab during one RSV season. Immediate adverse events (AEs) were observed and registered by a pediatric specialist nurse. Late-onset AEs were reported by parents. Parents' perceptions were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using content analysis. The study population consisted of 43 infants in 38 families. No immediate AEs occurred. Three late-onset AEs were reported in two infants in the intervention group. Three categories emerged in the content analysis: (1) protect and watch over the infant, (2) optimal health and well-being for the whole family, and (3) avoid suffering for the infant. The study results show that home immunization with palivizumab is feasible if safety aspects are considered and that parental involvement in the choice of place for immunization after a neonatal intensive care experience can be important.

Hypersensitivity reactions to biologics in children

INTRODUCTION

Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) have been observed with the use of biologics in children. The management of HSRs in children is mainly based on experiences from the adult population. Recently, data from different centers experienced in managing these reactions, including desensitization in children, have been published, allowing clinicians to have an appropriate global overview and compare results.

AREAS COVERED

This review highlights the published data on hypersensitivity reactions to biologics in children and drug desensitization protocols adapted to the pediatric population.

EXPERT OPINION

With regard to HSRs to biologics in children, few data are available. Compared with the adult population, there is a lack of knowledge in the endophenotypes, management and the standardization of protocols including premedication regimens in children. An international consensus is needed to provide clinicians with new insight on how to apply personalized management and to perform tailored desensitization protocols in pediatric populations. Various specialists including allergists, pediatricians, oncologists, hematologists, rheumatologists, and pharmacists, should build a multidisciplinary management team to keep pediatric patients on their best treatment options in the safest manner.

Hypersensitivity to Intravenous Iron Preparations

Intravenous iron is widely used for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia when adherence to oral iron replacement is poor. Acute hypersensitivity reactions during iron infusions are very rare but can be life threatening. Major risk factors for hypersensitivity reactions include a previous reaction to an iron infusion, a fast iron infusion rate, multiple drug allergies, atopic diseases, high serum tryptase levels, asthma, and urticaria. The management of iron infusions requires meticulous observation, and, in the event of an adverse reaction, prompt recognition and severity-related interventions by well-trained medical and nursing staff. Avoidance of IV iron products in patients with iron hypersensitivity reactions may not be considered as a standard practice.

A review on targeting tumor microenvironment: The main paradigm shift in the mAb-based immunotherapy of solid tumors

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as biological macromolecules have been remarked the large and growing pipline of the pharmaceutical market and also the most promising tool in modern medicine for cancer therapy. These therapeutic entities, which consist of whole mAbs, armed mAbs (i.e., antibody-toxin conjugates, antibody-drug conjugates, and antibody-radionuclide conjugates), and antibody fragments, mostly target tumor cells. However, due to intrinsic heterogeneity of cancer diseases, tumor cells targeting mAb have been encountered with difficulties in their unpredictable efficacy as well as variability in remission and durable clinical benefits among cancer patients. To address these pitfalls, the area has undergone two major evolutions with the intent of minimizing anti-drug responses and addressing limitations experienced with tumor cell-targeted therapies. As a novel hallmark of cancer, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is becoming the great importance of attention to develop innovative strategies based on therapeutic mAbs. Here, we underscore innovative strategies targeting TME by mAbs which destroy tumor cells indirectly through targeting vasculature system (e.g., anti-angiogenesis), immune system modulation (i.e., stimulation, suppression, and depletion), the targeting and blocking of stroma-based growth signals (e.g., cancer-associated fibroblasts), and targeting cancer stem cells, as well as, their effector mechanisms, clinical uses, and relevant mechanisms of resistance.

Severe Immediate and Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Biologics in a Toddler With Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Many pediatric rheumatic diseases can be safely managed with biologic therapy. Severe allergic reactions to these medications are uncommon. We report the case of a 2-year-old male with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and secondary macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), whose treatment was complicated by severe allergic reactions to biologics, including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)/drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction (DIHR) likely due to anakinra, and anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous tocilizumab. These required transition to canakinumab, cyclosporine, and corticosteroids, with later development of interstitial lung disease and MAS flare needing transition from canakinumab to tofacitinib, which led to disease control. Whether lung disease is a manifestation of DRESS/DIHR to canakinumab remains unclear. High index of suspicion of hypersensitivity reactions for timely diagnosis and drug discontinuation is critical, especially in patients with active disease who might be at increased risk of these adverse events.

Intensive Safety Monitoring of Rituximab (Biosimilar Novex® and the Innovator) in Pediatric Patients With Complex Diseases

Although rituximab is widely used off-label for complex pediatric diseases, safety reports are limited. We aimed to report evidence of its use in clinical practice, to describe the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADR) to rituximab biosimilar Novex^® and innovator, and to identify risk factors for the development of ADR in a real-life follow-up cohort of pediatric patients with complex diseases. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal, observational, single-centre study in patients that received rituximab for any complex disease, and as part of an intensive pharmacovigilance program. Demographic, pharmacological, clinical, and drug-related data were collected for all patients. ADR-free survival, including infusion-related reactions (IRR) and delayed ADR (dADR), was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Risk factors were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression models. In total, 77 patients (<19 y.o.) received 187 infusions of rituximab Novex^® (n = 155) or innovator rituximab (n = 32) for neurologic (Neu), immune-hematologic-rheumatic (IHR), oncologic (O) diseases, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) or solid-organ transplantation (SOT). We recorded 29 IRR and 58 dADR that occurred in 27 (35.1%) and 29 (37.7%) patients, respectively. The respiratory tract was the most affected during IRR (29.6%) and hypogammaglobulinemia (37.9 %) was the most frequent dADR. First versus subsequent infusions (HR 5.4, CI95% 2.4-12.1, p<0.05), sex (boys vs. girls, HR 0.3, CI95% 0.1-0.8, and p<0.05), and diagnosis (Neu-IHR diseases vs. O-HSCT-SOT, HR 2.3, CI95% 1.02-5.4, and p < 0.05) were significantly associated with the development of IRR. For dADR, risk factors were diagnosis (Neu-IHR diseases vs. O-HSCT-SOT, HR 0.4, CI95% 0.2-0.9, and p < 0.05) and cumulative body surface area-normalized dosage (HR 1.0003, CI95% 1.0001-1.0006, and p < 0.05). The present is the largest real-world safety assessment of rituximab in Latin-American children with complex diseases supporting its use based on the overall acceptable safety. Identification of risk factors may contribute to optimization of off-label rituximab treatment in pediatrics.

Hypersensitivity and Immune-related Adverse Events in Biologic Therapy

Biologic medications are an expanding field of therapeutics for various medical conditions including cancer and inflammatory diseases. Due to their targeted approach to therapy, biologics can be less toxic than traditional systemic medications. However, as use becomes more widespread, adverse effects from biologic administration have also become apparent. Immune-related adverse events are a common mechanism by which biologics can cause on-target immune-related toxicities and both immediate and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions can be mediated by cytokine release or antibody mediated reactions, while delayed-type hypersensitivity is most often caused by serum sickness-like reactions. Additionally, biologics used for treatment of cancer using checkpoint blockade and rheumatologic disease using cytokine blockade can result in autoimmunity. Finally, when inflammatory cytokines are targeted for treatment of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease, the host immune defense can be compromised predisposing to secondary immunodeficiency. This review will discuss the mechanisms of these reactions and discuss examples of biologics implicated in each of these adverse events.