Cytarabine Disease Interactions

Because of their cytotoxic effects on rapidly proliferating tissues, antineoplastic agents frequently can, to varying extent, induce myelosuppression. The use of these drugs may be contraindicated in patients with known infectious diseases. All patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting infection such as fever, sore throat, or local infection during antineoplastic therapy. Close clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.

Cytarabine is a potent bone marrow suppressant. Therapy with cytarabine should be administered cautiously in patients whose bone marrow reserve may be severely depressed by prior chemotherapy or whose marrow function is recovering from previous cytotoxic therapy. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression such as fever, sore throat, local infection, or bleeding. Patients receiving this drug must be under close medical supervision and, during induction therapy, should have leucocyte and platelet counts performed daily. Bone marrow examinations should be performed frequently after blasts have disappeared from the peripheral blood. Consider suspending or modifying therapy when drug-induced marrow depression has resulted in a platelet count under 50,000 or a polymorphonuclear granulocyte count under 1000/mm3.

Cytarabine is extensively metabolized by the liver. Patients with impaired hepatic function may be at increased risk for CNS toxicity during high dose cytarabine therapy. Therapy with cytarabine should be administered cautiously and the dosages modified in patients with or predisposed to compromised hepatic function. Periodic checks of liver function should be performed in patients receiving Cytarabine Injection.

Cytarabine is primarily eliminated by the kidney. Patients with impaired renal function may be at increased risk for CNS toxicity during high dose cytarabine therapy. Therapy with cytarabine should be administered cautiously and the dosages modified in patients with or predisposed to compromised renal function. Periodic checks of kidney function should be performed in patients receiving Cytarabine.