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Early intervention with recombinant human erythropoietin for chemotherapy-induced anemia

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Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) in Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is a frequent complication of modern myelosuppressive chemotherapy (Groopman and Itri 1999). Complications of CIA include fatigue and its associated physical, emotional, psychological, and social effects (Curt 2000). The effects of CIA are perhaps most noticeable in the treatment of elderly cancer patients at increased risk of mortality, functional dependence, cognitive disturbances, falls, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular effects (Balducci et al. 2000). The incidence of severe anemia (hemoglobin <8g/dL) has been reported to range from 50% to 60% in patients with certain malignancies receiving chemotherapy while the total incidence of anemia including grade 1 (hemoglobin = 10g/dL to <12g/dL) and 2 (hemoglobin = 8g/dL to hemoglobin <10g/dL) is high across most major solid tumors (Groopman and Itri 1999; CTEP 1998; FDA 2004).

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Correspondence to Gary H. Lyman MD, MPH, FRCP (Edin) .

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Lyman, G.H., Glaspy, J. (2008). Early intervention with recombinant human erythropoietin for chemotherapy-induced anemia. In: Nowrousian, M.R. (eds) Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) in Clinical Oncology. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69459-6_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69459-6_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-25223-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-69459-6

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