Assessment of Chemotherapy induced Leukopenia and its determinants among solid cancer patients attending St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College Oncology Unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-05
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Chemotherapy is among the standard treatments for cancer and leukopenia,
neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and lymphopenia are the most common side effects. These side
effects have been reported to be associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and healthcare
costs.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of chemotherapy induced leukopenia (CIL) in solid cancer
patients at St Paul‟s Hospital Millennium Medical College Oncology unit, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was performed at St Paul‟s Hospital
Millennium Medical College Oncology unit from February 1st 2020 to May 2020. Using
convenient sampling technique, 92 patients, who were diagnosed for any type of solid cancer,
were recruited in this study. EDTA whole blood was collected before each cycle of treatments
and analyzed for complete blood count (CBC) using Beckman coulter analyzer before and after
the initiation of chemotherapy. The laboratory analysis was done for five times Data were
entered; cleared and analyzed to match the objectives. Chi-square statistics were employed and p
values less than 0.05 were taken as statistically significant.
Results: Among the 92 patients who participated in this study, the following adverse effects
were observed after the use of various chemotherapy regiments in the five cycles. The most
common adverse effects of Chemotherapy Are Leukopenia 80.4%, Neutropenia 70.7 %, Febrile
Neutropenia 50% and Lymphopenia 88%. occupation and ECOG have a significant association with
the occurrence of hematological toxicities with (p=0.011) and (P=0.013) respectively. Also majority of
hematological toxicities are caused by Adriamycin + cyclophosphamide.
Conclusion: Even though chemotherapy is the standard treatment for cancer patients, it causes
leukopenia, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and lymphopenia which may cause delaying of
treatment, morbidity and mortality.
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Keywords
Cancer, Chemotherapy, Leukopenia, Neutropenia, Lymphopenia, Febrile Neutropenia