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Review
. 2021 Sep;22(3):949.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10381. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies: Classification and treatment approach (Review)

Irena Pintea  1   2 , Carina Petricau  1   2 , Dinu Dumitrascu  3 , Adriana Muntean  1   2 , Daniel Constantin Branisteanu  4 , Daciana Elena Branisteanu  5 , Diana Deleanu  1   2   6
Affiliations
Review

Hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies: Classification and treatment approach (Review)

Irena Pintea et al. Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

The present paper aims to review the topic of adverse reactions to biological agents, in terms of the incriminating mechanisms and therapeutic approach. As a result of immunomodulatory therapy, the last decade has achieved spectacular results in the targeted treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases, to name a few. The widespread use of biological agents is, however, associated with an increase in the number of observed adverse drug reactions ranging from local erythema to systemic reactions, including life-threatening immunologically mediated events, which justifies the need for a deeper understanding of this subject. Rapid desensitization to biological agents emerges as a treatment strategy for anaphylactic (immediate or delayed) hypersensitivity reactions as well as for severe infusion reactions. Drug desensitization is the administration of progressively increasing doses of the specific preparation until reaching the therapeutic dose in order to induce immunological tolerance and is indicated when the drugs are indispensable to the therapeutic regimen of individuals with hypersensitivity reactions to the preparation, with no reasonable alternatives.

Keywords: adverse reactions; biological agents; desensitization; drug allergy; hypersensitivity reactions; immunomodulators; monoclonal antibodies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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