Journal of Cancer and Tumor International

Background: Treatment of haematologic malignancies with chemotherapy is associated with side effects. Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopaenia, a recognized side effect, have been defined by nadir platelet counts, at different cycles of chemotherapy. A lot more studies describe this occurrence in those with non-haematologic cancers. The aim of this study is to ascertain the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopaenia among adult patients with haematologic cancers, and also to determine if there is a significant relationship between chemotherapy regimen and thrombocytopaenia, and which of these regimen causes the most thrombocytopaenia in these patients.

Method: A retrospective study involving adult haematologic cancer patients over a period of 10 years at the haematology department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. 126 patients were identified but 72 had complete, relevant clinical and laboratory data and were included in the study. Statistical analysis was by SPSS version 26.

Results: Prevalence of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopaenia was 26.0%. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in the treatment of CML showed more thrombocytopaenia but this was not statistically significant. Ethnicity of patients showed relation to chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopaenia.

Conclusion: Up to a quarter of patients with haematologic malignancy in this part of the world would develop thrombocytopaenia when treated with chemotherapy. This should be expected when treating patients with haematologic malignancies.