title: Apparent stimulation of thrombopoesis with interleukin-3 (IL-3) in chemotherapy induced myelosuppression.
abstract: Two patients with advanced ovarian cancer (FIGO III C) and one patient with abdominal cancer developed severe thrombocytopenia with petechial haemorrhages after chemotherapy. These patients were treated with recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) after multiple platelet transfusions (HLA-matched) and erythrocyte transfusions had not been effective. Increase of thrombocyte counts began three days after rhIL-3 therapy. Side effects due to rhIL-3 administration (flu-like symptoms) were moderate and could be treated effectively with paracetamol. These data support evidence for efficacy of rhIL-3 in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and may open new therapeutic perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Sandoz AG, Clinical Research, Abt. KFO, Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Färber
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Füchsel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meinerz
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D007377:Interleukin-3