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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) could be managed on an outpatient basis

09-07-2006

"We assessed the feasibility of outpatient chemotherapy and supportive care in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). All patients receiving curative intent chemotherapy between 09/01 and 10/02 and meeting our criteria received supportive care post induction chemotherapy as well as their entire consolidation chemotherapy cycles as outpatients," scientists writing in the journal Annals of Oncology reported.

"Patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis; those developing episodes of fever and not meeting the criteria for admission were treated with outpatient intravenous antibiotics," explained M.L. Savoie and colleagues, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia. "Seventy-one cycles of induction chemotherapy were administered for newly diagnosed or relapsed AML. In 25 cycles the patient was discharged post chemotherapy prior to count recovery. Of these, 14 patients developed one or more febrile episodes as an outpatient and 9 (36%) required readmission to hospital.

"Sixty-seven consolidation cycles were given on an outpatient basis. In 39 cycles there was one or more febrile episodes and in 14 (21%) admission was required. Infections were documented in 4 cases during induction and in 27 during consolidation. There were no treatment-related deaths."

The researchers concluded, "Outpatient management of AML is safe and feasible using the strategies outlined in this report."

Savoie and colleagues published their study in Annals of Oncology (Shifting to outpatient management of acute myeloid leukemia: a prospective experience. Ann Oncol, 2006;17(5):763-768).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.L. Savoie, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia, Division of Hematology, Vancouver Hospital Health Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.