Acute hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVES: To provide a review of the immune system response involved in acute hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) and anaphylactic reactions to chemotherapy. DATA SOURCES: Professional experience, published articles, and book chapters. CONCLUSIONS: Acute HSRs from chemotherapy administration can be a rare to moderate occurrence, depending on the chemotherapy agents involved. It is of vital importance for nurses caring for patients receiving chemotherapy to take steps to prevent HSRs when possible and/or to minimize the potentially fatal effects of those reactions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses caring for patients receiving chemotherapy should understand the risk of HSRs as well as the pathophysiology involved to ensure utilization of preventive measures when appropriate and early recognition and intervention in the event of an acute HSR.