The management of cancer anemia.
Anemia is common in patients with cancer and is often exacerbated by myelosuppressive chemotherapy. If severe enough, the anemia may require red blood cell transfusion for symptomatic palliation. However, blood transfusion will never be completely safe. Inconvenience and acute transfusion reactions are a problem and there is still a small risk of hepatitis. In selected patients with cancer-related anemia, recombinant human erythropoietin is another option to consider for the symptomatic patient.
Henry
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Tuttleman Center, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19146.
D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014481:United States
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin