Cytarabine-induced anaphylaxis. Demonstration of antibody and successful desensitization.

An anaphylactic episode occurred in a patient receiving cytarabine (Ara-C) for acute myeloid leukemia. Specific allergy of the patient to cytarabine was demonstrated in vivo by intradermal testing and in vitro by four-hour passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in guinea pigs. Desensitization to cytarabine was successfully performed. This case represents the first known report of both cytarabine anaphylaxis and densensitization, and provides immunologic evidence implicating an allergic reaction to cytarabine.