[Clinical experiences with adrenaline as therapy and prevention of E. coli-L-asparaginase-induced anaphylaxis].

Management of E.-coli L-asparaginase induced anaphylaxis mainly consists of application of i.v. epinephrine but also in the withdrawal of this drug. Despite of this firm recommendation we have shown in 7 patients with E. coli L-asparaginase induced anaphylaxis, that further application of the drug is possible in the presence of a continuous epinephrine infusion (0.01-0.02 mg/kg) started one hour before and finished one hour after the concomittant infusion of the E.-coli L-asparaginase. In none of the patients there was a second event of anaphylaxis even though most of the patients still had to continue on E.-coli L-asparaginase with an average of more than 6 infusion.