title: Comparison of daily filgrastim and pegfilgrastim to prevent febrile neutropenia in Asian lymphoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a highly prevalent complication of chemotherapy, particularly in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim in Asian lymphoma patients by evaluating the incidence of FN and associated complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study in Asian lymphoma patients who received chemotherapy with primary prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors support between January 2008 and August 2009. Data were analyzed using an intent-to-treat approach, which aimed to reflect actual prescribing practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 204 Asian lymphoma patients were included in this study, with 81 patients in the filgrastim arm and 123 patients in the pegfilgrastim arm. Overall, the incidence of breakthrough FN was similar between the two groups of patients (13.6%: filgrastim arm vs 16.3%: pegfilgrastim arm; P=0.69). Neutropenic complications such as chemotherapy treatment delay and chemotherapy dose reduction were similar between the two arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Asian patients, pegfilgrastim prophylaxis did not show a therapeutic advantage for preventing neutropenic outcomes compared with filgrastim prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore. phaac@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Xue Zhen
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Joen Y L
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Soon Thye
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001208:Asia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; C455861:pegfilgrastim; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069585:Filgrastim