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Research Week Abstract Book - Northern Health

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Haematology<br />

A RETROSPECTIVE EValuaTION OF HAEMAToloGICAL AND INFECTIVE<br />

COMPliCATIONS OF FLUDarabine, CYCloPhosPhamiDE AND RITUXIMAB (FCR)<br />

CombinaTion Chemo-immunoTheraPhy<br />

Ho P, Romero S, Grigg A and Tam C.<br />

Background<br />

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) is commonly used for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia<br />

(CLL). It is associated with infective and haematological complications with increasing anecdotal evidence of severe aplasia<br />

and death. However, the incidence and clinical significance of these complications remain unclear.<br />

Aim<br />

Determine the haematological and infective complications associated with FCR treatment.<br />

Methodology<br />

Retrospective analysis of patients receiving FCR treatment. Haematology complications were graded based on WHO<br />

classification. Late onset neutropenia (LON) was defined as grade III-IV neutropenia developing after four weeks following<br />

cessation of therapy. Patients were followed up for 12 months.<br />

Results<br />

47 patients (33M, 14F) with median age 63 (40-83). 32 patients received FCR for CLL while 15 were treated for other<br />

non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 20% of patients with a per cycle rate of 5.8%. Neutropenic<br />

complications were worse in later cycles.<br />

No severe aplasia or aplastic death were identified, however Grade I-II bi-cytopenia was not uncommon. 43% of patients<br />

developed grade III-IV LON (median 74 days; ANC = 0.5). Risk factors included female sex and increasing number of FCR<br />

cycles. Age and ANC during chemotherapy did not confer an increased risk. Opportunistic infection rates were low (1%) with<br />

no cases of pneumocystic jirovec pneumonia.<br />

Conclusion<br />

FCR chemotherapy appears to be well tolerated with a relatively low rate of febrile neutropenia, comparable to similar<br />

chemotherapy regimens. However, rituximab related late-onset neutropenia is more common with fludarabine based (43%)<br />

compared to non- fludarabine-based chemotherapy (3-25%). Further evaluation and data collection will be undertaken.<br />

30<br />

<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Week</strong> <strong>Abstract</strong> <strong>Book</strong> <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Health</strong> 2013

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