Clinical efficacy of recombinant human interleukin 11 in the treatment of thrombocytopenia caused by chemotherapy in malignant patients

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and side effects of chinese recombinant human interleukin 11(rhIL-11) in the treatment of thrombocytopenia caused by chemotherapy in patients with malignancies.Methods:Using self control method, 33 patients who had grade Ⅲ thrombocytopenia (blood plt50×l09/L) after the first cycle of chemotherapy were enrolled. In next cycle of chemotherapy using the same regimen with the same dosage, these patients were injected with 1.5mg rhIL-11 per day for 5-20 days, until the counts of platelets came to normal level (blood plt≥100×109/L).Results:In control and rhIL-11 group, the average platelet counts at the nadir of thrombocytopenia were (25.03±15.49)×109/L and (43.61±28.24)×109/L(P=0.002) respectively after chemotherapy. The average days that platelet count less than 50×109/L were (9.25±3.78) and (4.96±4.36)(P0.001) days respectively. The average numbers of transfusion of platelet were (0.91±1.042) and (0.36±0.859) units(P=0.024) respectively. The main side effects including fatigue, local pain of injection, nausea and vomiting, muscular soreness, arthralgia and conjunctival congestion were all not severe.Conclusion:The efficacy of recombinant human interleukin-11 in the treatment of thrombocytopenia caused by chemotherapy in patients with malignancies is satisfing. Side effects are tolerable.