Cancer is a common name for a group of diseases in which cells divide uncontrollably.
Altered cells are formed that have no physiological significance for the body. Cytostatics are
drugs that stop the division of cancer cells. Due to non-selectivity, they also damage healthy
rapidly dividing cells in the body and often cause side effects. Adverse drug reactions are an
unintentional and harmful reaction that may occur at therapeutic doses. Neutropenia is a
decrease in the absolute number of neutrophils in the blood below 2,0 x 109/L and is one of
the most common and dangerous haematological side effects. Granulocyte colony
stimulating factors are growth factors that are prescribed for the purpose of preventing or
treating neutropenia.
The purpose of the study is to obtain information on the incidence of neutropenia in the
cytostatic treatment of breast cancer and on the method of prevention and treatment of
neutropenia in patients treated in the oncology clinic of the General Hospital Slovenj Gradec.
50 patients with breast cancer who were treated with cytostatics, were included in the study.
Data were obtained from laboratory results and medical records of patients. We focused on
the received treatment regimens, laboratory values of neutrophils, treatment in case of
neutropenia and prescribed supportive therapy in case of neutropenia.
Neutropenia occurred in 32 patients (64,0 %). Mild neutropenia occurred most frequently
(54,0 %), followed by the moderate (24,0 %) and severe neutropenia (6,0 %). In all patients
treated according to the schemes 6 x EC, 4 x AC or 12 x PAKLI, neutropenia occurred. For
62,5 % of patients, interventions were taken when neutropenia occurred. The most chosen
intervention was delay of the next chemotherapy. Interventions in the case of neutropenia
were in 78,7% in line with the recommendations. G-CSF were prescribed to 46,9 % of
patients with neutropenia. Most often applied G-CSF was pegfilgrastrim, which also had the
least recurrence of neutropenia in the next cycle of chemotherapy. 86,7 % applied doses of
G-CSF were in line with the recommendations, most commonly it was filgrastim (100,0 %).
The results of the study show that the incidence of neutropenia is more common when
anthracyclines or taxanes are present in the scheme. The incidence of severe and febrile
neutropenia is less common compared to similar studies. G-CSF has been shown to be an
appropriate supportive therapy, as neutropenia has not recurred after most G-CSF
applications.
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