Pegfilgrastim Disease Interactions

Although it has been reported that renal dysfunction has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of colony stimulating factors (CSF), filgrastim and pegfilgrastim may cause glomerulonephritis. Symptoms include swelling of the face or ankles, dark colored urine, or blood in the urine, or a decrease in urine production. Advise patients to report signs or symptoms of glomerulonephritis immediately. Monitoring of patients with renal dysfunction is recommended.

Colony stimulating factors primarily stimulates the proliferation of neutrophils but may also, theoretically, enhance tumor growth, particularly in myeloid malignancies. Therapy with these drugs should be administered cautiously in patients with myeloid tumors. Additionally, if used for PBPC (peripheral blood progenitor cell) collection in such patients, tumor cells may be released from the marrow and collected in the leukapheresis product. The effect of reinfusion of tumor cells is uncertain at this time.

Filgrastim and pegfilgrastim are growth factors for neutrophil progenitor cells. Therefore, these should not be used in patients with leukocytosis. If excessive white blood cell counts occur during CSF therapy, treatment should be interrupted or the dosage reduced.