Single dose filgastrim in cytotoxic-induced neutropaenia in children.
OBJECTIVE
To document the impact of fixed dose weight adjusted filgastrim (G-CSF) in cytotoxic-induced neutropaenia.


METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Paediatric Oncology Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODS
All paediatric oncology patients who had developed cytotoxic-induced neutropaenia.


METHODS
The following were documented for every tissue proven case of malignancy; age, sex, type of malignancy, treatment regimen and schedule, initial blood count at the time of neutropaenia; subsequent blood counts daily for five days from day one of single dose filgastrim, and the calculated neutrophil incremental count.


RESULTS
Initially eight patients with solid tumours previously treated with filgastrim revealed that cytotoxic induced neutropaenia could be ameliorated by a single dose of filgastrim. Subsequently, the study listed thirty patients. This cohort consisted of; 37% rhabdomyosarcoma, 30% Burkitts, 27% acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 6% Hodgkin's lymphoma. Increased neutrophil count after 48 hours was documented in 26 (87%) patients, with absolute neutrophil counts range of 0.5 to 31.5 x 10(9)/L. This response was significantly influenced by gender (p>0.0001), malignancy type and chemotherapy regimen (p>0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that chemotherapy induced neutropaenia can be alleviated by a single dose of filgastrim without adverse effects on lymphoblastic leukaemia. This study suggests that a single dose of filgastrim should be first tried in cytotoxic induced neutropaenia in the paediatric age group.
Department of Human Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
F K
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Abdallah
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003603:Cytotoxins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000069585:Filgrastim