Pegfilgrastim in the treatment and prophylaxis of postcytostatic neutropenia
Neutropenia is one of the most often life-threatening adverse events after cytotoxic chemotherapy. During the past two decades myeloid growth factors are used for the reducing the risk of neutripenia. Current recommendations allow routine usage of growth factors when the risk of neutropenia is more than 20%. Myeloid growth factors reduce neutropenia duration and make the possibility to give dose-dense and dose-intensive regimens in a preplanned schedule. Pegfilgrastim is a pegilated recombinant granulocyte colonystimulating factor (GCSF) with a prolonged mechanism of action. Clinical trials data showed that pegfilgrastim is more effective in decreasing of febril neutropenia comparing to filgrastim. This article reviews neutropenia and its complications and pegfilgrastin clinical experience.