Drug fever—an immune-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to Vinca alkaloids in pediatric oncology patients, possibly mediated by cysteinyl leukotrienes

Drug hypersensitivity reactions are common in pediatric hemato-oncology patients due to multiple factors including immune compromise and pharmacological complexities. Fever can signify severe delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS). The etiology of fever as an isolated hypersensitivity reaction to chemotherapeutic agents not fully understood. Here, we report three children with intracranial neoplasms experiencing recurrent febrile reactions following Vinca alkaloid-based chemotherapy, mitigated by cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy.