title: Frequency and severity of neutropenia in diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma after first cycle of chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine with prednisolone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy used for malignant diseases may produce severe neutropenia in first cycle which may compel for dose modification and early termination of therapy. This descriptive cross sectional study was planned to see the frequency and severity of neutropenia after first cycle of chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine with prednisolon in patients of diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting at Oncology Department Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from August 2009 to July 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients of diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed on lymph node biopsy presenting for the first time at Oncology Department Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi were included. They were admitted in the ward and evaluated with history, physical examination and staging investigations. Patients were then planned for first cycle of chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine with prednisolon. After the first cycle of chemotherapy they were monitored for expected neutropenia in the ward. The neutrophil counts were repeated on days 7 and 10 following chemotherapy. Neutropenia was graded as defined in the operational definition and all the data was entered on a specially designed data card.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As much as 3.3% of patients suffered from grade IV neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count of <0.5x10(9)/L), 3.3% had grade III neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count of 0.5x10(9)/L-0.9x10(9)/L), 6.6% had Grade II neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count 1.0x10(9)/L-1.4x10(9)/L and 10% had Grade I neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count 1.5x10(9)/L-1.9x10(9)/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall 23.2% suffered from neutropenia of all grades post 1st cycle of chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine with prednisolon in diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Further studies are required to find the risk factors to predict this complication in our population.
authors: Department of Oncology, CMH, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. dr_nadeempiracha@hotmail.com
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Nadeem
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Idrees
authors: Javeed
authors: J
authors: Khattak
authors: Iftikhar
authors: I
authors: Hussain
authors: Zulfiqar
authors: Z
authors: Amin
authors: Salman
authors: S
authors: Arif
authors: Mansoor
authors: M
authors: Zeeshan
authors: Mussavir
authors: M
authors: Hussain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone