The efficacy of premedication with 10 mg versus 20 mg of intravenous dexamethasone for prevention of paclitaxel hypersensitivity reaction in low-risk gynecologic cancer patients: a non-inferiority, randomized controlled mono-institutional trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Dexamethasone has been used extensively to prevent hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel. However, the optimal dose of dexamethasone is controversial, varying between 20 mg and 10 mg. We conducted this randomized controlled trial to illustrate that these 2 dosages of dexamethasone are non-inferior to the prevention of paclitaxel HSRs. Methods Gynecologic cancer patients who naively receive paclitaxel and carboplatin were invited to participate in this study. All participants received the same premedication with intravenous dexamethasone 20 mg, oral lorazepam 0.5 mg, and intravenous chlorpheniramine 10 mg at the first cycle. If they did not develop hypersensitivity reactions, they were randomized to receive either intravenous 20 mg or 10 mg dexamethasone with the same other premedication. The attending nurse recorded the patient’s symptoms regarding hypersensitivity reactions. The main outcome was hypersensitivity reaction events in each arm, with a non-inferiority margin of 0.11. Results A total of 122 patients were included and randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone 10 mg (n = 61) or dexamethasone 20 mg (n = 61). The overall incidence of hypersensitivity reactions in patients who received dexamethasone 10 mg and dexamethasone 20 mg was 9.8% and 13.1%, respectively, the risk difference between dexamethasone 10 mg and dexamethasone 20 mg not exceeding the non-inferiority margin of 0.11 (Risk Difference = -0.03, 95% confidence interval = -0.15 to 0.08). Conclusion Dexamethasone 10 mg was non-inferior to dexamethasone 20 mg in terms of prevention of paclitaxel hypersensitivity reactions.

Keywords

• Dexamethasone
• Premedication
• Paclitaxel
• Hypersensitivity