Intravenous desensitization to allopurinol in a heart transplant patient with gout.

BACKGROUND

Oral desensitization with allopurinol presents a problem for patients with allopurinol hypersensitivity and gout that needs to be controlled rapidly. To our knowledge, only 1 case report of intravenous (i.v.) desensitization has been previously published.

OBJECTIVE

To present a case report of a patient with cutaneous reactions to allopurinol who underwent i.v. allopurinol desensitization.

METHODS

Intravenous infusion of allopurinol was performed using an escalating, 19-dose protocol.

RESULTS

No adverse reactions were precipitated by 2 i.v., escalating dose procedures, allowing continuation of effective treatment of the patient's hyperuricemia.

CONCLUSIONS

This case of safe and effective desensitization with allopurinol by the i.v. route should emphasize the need for a trial of this protocol in additional patients in whom rapid desensitization would be advantageous.