Six patients suffering from various gynecologic
malignancies developed severe
thrombocytopenia (WHO IV) after normal-dose
chemotherapy. All patients were treated with
platelet transfusions but the results on hematopoietic recovery were not satisfactory. Therefore treatment with a new hematopoietic substance (rh interleukin-3) was initiated. All patients received a dosage of 5 mu g/kg/bw daily s.c. up to 10 days depending on the response of platelet counts. In two women, who had suffered from severe
hemorrhage (
epistaxis resp. ankle joint
hematoma), symptoms disappeared after approximately three days of rhIL-3 use. Whereas
platelet transfusions were ineffective in all patients,
IL-3 led to a significant increase of the platelet count after 3-5 days of application. Side-effects were mild, when seen in one case, where
G-CSF was given at the same time. Our experience supports the idea of using new
growth factors like rhIL-3 to cure
chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, such as severe
thrombocytopenia.