OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) on hematological recovery after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in patients with lymphoma.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out on 73 patients with lymphoma after AHSCT. The patients were divided into two groups. The study group (n = 35) received rhIL-11 1.5 mg daily from the fifth day after AHSCT to the day when platelets recovering to 80.0×10⁹/L. The control group (n = 38) did not receive rhIL-11 after AHSCT.

RESULTSAll the 73 patients finished AHSCT from Mar 2003 to Dec 2008 in our department. Thirty-five patients received rhIL-11 and 38 patients did not. In the rhIL-11 group and control group, the nadir of platelet was (18.9 ± 5.0)×10⁹/L and (21.5 ± 6.0)×10⁹/L, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.04). The median time of platelet recovering to 50.0×10⁹/L was (14.3 ± 5.5) d and (13.2 ± 4.5) d (P = 0.37) in the two groups. There was no significant difference (P = 0.82) in the median numbers of platelet transfusion in the two groups. The curves of the mean of daily absolute platelet counts of the two groups were similar (P = 0.22). Adverse events related to rhIL-11 were not found in the rhIL-11 group.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study do not show obviously accelerating effect of rhIL-11 on the platelet recovery in lymphoma patients after AHSCT and obvious increase of adverse events after rhIL-11 administration.