Haematologica Reports 2005; 1(issue 8):
41-45[prev][index][next]
Palifermin (Kepivance™) in the treatment of
mucositis
Emmanouilides C
Associate Profesor of Medicine, UCLA, Division
Haematology-Oncology, Thessaloniki, Greece
In patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic
stem cell transplant, oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most
debilitating and annoying side effects. This complication results
from cytotoxic injury to the epithelial lining of the oropharyngeal
mucosa, although lesions of the whole gastrointestinal tract also
occur.1 The severity of OM varies from erythema and
edema accompanied by mild soreness to full mucosal thickness
ulcerations penetrating into the submucosa, often resulting in
severe pain requiring narcotic analgesia and impaired swallowing,
prolonged hospitalization, and increased risks for infections and
potentially life-threatening sequelae.2,3 Between 40% to
80% of cancer patients undergoing intensive treatment regimens
requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) suffer the
debilitating effects of OM during their cancer
therapy.4,7 [>Read full article in
PDF]
