Clinical relevance and treatment of nonautoimmune anemia in CLL

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BlankClinical relevance and treatment of nonautoimmune anemia in chronic

lymphocytic leukemia.

S Molica, R Mirabelli, M Molica, L Levato, FR Mauro and R Foa

Cancer Manag Res, January 1, 2011; 3: 211-7.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Pugliese-Ciaccio,

Catanzaro;

Anemia has an unfavorable impact on quality of life in chronic lymphocytic

leukemia (CLL), increases the likelihood of receiving blood transfusions, and

eventually has a negative impact on overall survival. Although discrepancies in

perception of health-related quality of life between doctors and patients lead

to the undertreatment of anemia, CLL patients undergoing chemotherapy who have a

hemoglobin level <10 g/dL should be considered for treatment with

erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. For hemoglobin values of 10-12 g/dL, the role

of performance status and comorbidities should not be underestimated. In this

setting, the evaluation of physical fitness using the Cumulative Illness Rating

Scale should help physicians to identify those patients with hemoglobin levels

of 10-12 g/dL who are suitable for therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating

agents. Finally, the increasing use of aggressive approaches to therapy should

encourage physicians towards appropriate management of chemotherapy-induced

anemia in CLL patients.

PMID: 21792329