Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

arm (2.4 g/dl) compared to patients on oral iron or no iron.Mean Hb increase was 1.6 g/dL in the oral iron arm, and 1.5g/dL (95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9) in the no-iron arm. The differencein Hb increase between these two arms was not significant. [27]The summary of the 2 studies are mentioned in table -4Table 4 Iron therapy- Summary of results from randomized studiesAuerbach No Iron Oral Iron IV dextrann IV dextran157 patients [18] bolus infusionEPO 40000U/weekly given given given givenHb increase (gm/dl) 0.9 1.5 2.5 2.4Henry et al IV Ferric Oral No Iron187 patients [19] gluconate Ferrusonce sulphatea weekHb increase (gm/dl) 2.4 1.5 1.4ConclusionsCancer related problems is not limited to the disease itself,but can be exacerbated by the treatment regimens as well.Supportive care measures have demonstrated an ability to notonly alleviate side effects but also to significantly improvethe quality of life of affected patients. Given the highprevalence of anemia in cancer patients on chemotherapy, theconcurrent use of erythropoietic agents including EPO anddarbepoetin alfa have demonstrated an ability to increasehemoglobin levels, improve quality of life and perhaps survivalalso in patients being treated for cancer.Bibliography1. Ludwig G B, Barrett-Lee P, Krzakowski M. Prevalenceand management of anemia in patients with hematologicmalignancies and solid tumors: Results from theEuropean Cancer Anaemia Survey. Blood.2002;100:234a-235a. Abstract 884.486