Reactions 441 - 6 Mar 1993

Antineoplastics

Blood dyscrasias: clinical studyAntineoplastic therapy comprising cisplatin, etoposide and

bleomycin caused an unexpected significant increase oferythropoietin levels in 6 men aged 22-45 years with testicularcancer, according to a German study Patients were studiedover a total of 21 complete treatment cycles, administeredover 8 days every 4 weeks. Mild anaemia was observed inmost patients after antineoplastic treatment. Erythropoietinlevels were comparable to control levels prior to and 28 daysafter beginning antineoplastic therapy. Erythropoietin levelsincreased 3-4-fold during antineoplastic therapy, however,and were highest 6-8 days after beginning therapy. Theselevels of erythropoietin were significantly higher than thosevalues predicted from the haemoglobin levels found in thecontrol group.

Author comment: This antineoplastic regimen appeared toincrease synthesis or decrease metabolism of erythropoietinby an unknown mechanism which is independent of anaemiaPohl C, et al. Inappropriate increase in plasma erythropoietin levels following PEBchemotherapy. Onkologie 15: 384-389, Oct 1992 - Germany 800178788

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Reactions 6 Mar 1993 No. 4410114-9954/10/0441-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved