Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemotherapy regimen R-CHOP which includes cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone is standard of care for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Neutropenia is a common and dangerous side effect of chemotherapy which threatens the patients due to increased susceptibility to infection and it can jeopardize the success of treatment. Febrile neutropenia is severe neutropenia with body temperature above 38°C, which is an urgent condition in oncology and requires immediate antibiotic treatment. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor significantly shortens the period of neutropenia and reduces the risk of febrile neutropenia. The risk of febrile neutropenia depends on the type of chemotherapy and the patient's characteristics. The guidelines state the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor as primary prophylaxis in patients with overall risk of more than 20 %. The R-CHOP regimen poses 19 % risk of developing febrile neutropenia. The use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor depends on the judgment of the physician, who evaluates the patient's risk factors and assesses the patient's overall risk of febrile neutropenia.
Purpose of our study was to research the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor at Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. 197 patients were included into the study. By reviewing patients medical records we obtained data about incidence of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, use of antibiotics, primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony stimulating factor and researched how many patients were assessed as being at more than 20 % risk for febrile neutropenia.
The incidence of febrile neutropenia was 10 %. 89 % of patients with febrile neutropenia received appropriate antibiotic treatment. Severe neutropenia developed in 59 % of patients and 85 % of them received appropriate antibiotic protection. 34 % of patients received primary prophylaxis. 56 % of patients had an estimated risk of febrile neutropenia greater than 20 % and 45 % of these patients received primary prophylaxis. The results show that the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor reduces the risk of stage 4 neutropenia by 69,3 %.
Results of the retrospective study highlighted the need for optimization in assessment of overall risk of febrile neutropenia and consistent implementation of granulocyte colony stimulating factor as primary prophylaxis according to guidelines to further reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia and thus ensure the most effective treatment.
|