Review article
Anemia in malignant diseas – treatment algorithm
Duška Petranović
orcid.org/0000-0001-9225-956X
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Gorazd Pilčić
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Toni Valković
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Renata Dobrila Dintinjana
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Antica Duletić-Načinović
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Ivan Host
; Department of hematology, reumathology and clinical immunology, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
Anemia in malignant disease occurs with great frequency and its prevalence is 20-60% and depends on a number of diff erent factors. Causes of anemia in malignant disease can be manifold as they are already very presence of malignant disease, therapy of malignant
diseases and various other conditi ons (infecti ons, nutriti onal defi cits, the presence of other chronic diseases, etc.). The presence of anemia in malignant disease negatively affects on all physiological systems and their functi ons, especially on the central nervous system, cardiorespiratory system and on renal functi on. Therefore, these patients feel much worse than the disease itself is caused, and the presence or absence of anemia aff ects on the choice of opti ons and ways of treatment and is also one of the prognostic factors for survival in many tumors. Although it is very common, the anemia of malignant disease is often overlooked and underesti mated, and only about 40% of cancer pati ents who have anemia receive therapy for anemia. For the preventi on and treatment of anemia in cancer patients it is necessary to eliminate underlying ethyological factors. Applicati on of erythropoetic agents is strongly recomended according to the guidelines of ASCO and ASH. Altough it has
been used for many years in the world, in the Republic of Croatia erythropoetin has not been recognized for that indication.
Keywords
anemia; malignant disease; treatment
Hrčak ID:
53219
URI
Publication date:
7.6.2010.
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