PURPOSE: Severe thrombocytopenia is a rare but life threatening side effect of anticancer chemotherapy. This study is for delineating risk factors for anticancer chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusion in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety seven cases of cancers (stomach cancer 37, lung cancer 31 and breast cancer 29) were included in this study design. Complete blood cell counts were done at day 1 and then twice a week to find lowerest thrombocyte count in each cycle. Discriminant analysis of risk factors for chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusion were performed. RESULTS: Anticancer chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia less than 150,000/ microliter developed in 18 cases (20.0%) at day 20.6 8.0 and mean platelet count was 111,060 35,360/ microliter. Thrombocytopenia less than 100,000/ microliter developed in 10 cases (10.3%) at day 20.2 6.9 and mean platelet count was 56,200 30,460/ microliter. Among them platelet transfusions were needed in 6 cases (6.2%). Using discrininant analysis, day 1 platelet count less than 150,000/ microliter with total lymphocyte count less than 900/ microliter were identified as risk factors for anticancer chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusion. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia less than 150,000 microliter with total lymphocyte count less than 900/ microliter before administrating anticancer drugs are high risk factors for platelet transfusion, and needed proper managements.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphocyte Count ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion* ; Risk Factors* ; Thrombocytopenia*