Anaphylactic shock secondary to intravenous administration of folinic acid: a first report

Background: Folates, components of the B-complex vitamins, have numerous pharmacological effects. In oncology combining folates with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) enhances the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy in colon cancer patients. Folic acid has been rarely involved in adverse allergic reactions. To the best of our knowledge no anaphylactic reaction secondary to folinic acid (FA) administration has ever been reported before. Patients and methods: An 80-year-old patient had adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer including FA and 5-FU and irinotecan as a second line agent after multiple metastases. Results: Following FA administration anaphylactic shock occurred. Diagnosis was made according to the French method of adverse reactions monitoring. Conclusion: Anaphylactic shock may be an adverse reaction of FA in patients receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer.