Indication of Leustatin:
Cladribine is used in the treatment of: - Hairy cell leukaemia.- Chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia.- Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.- Waldenstroms macroglobulinaemia.
Action of Leustatin:
Cladribine acts by inhibiting the synthesis and the repair of DNA in particular in two types of white blood cells - the lymphocytes and the monocytes.
Dose Advice of Leustatin:
Specialist protocols should be consulted The following doses have been used: Hairy cell leukaemia: 90 micrograms/kg daily given as a continuous intravenous infusion over 7 days.Usually only a single course of treatment is required Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: 120 micrograms/kg or 4.8 mg/m2 given as an intravenous infusion over 2 hours on days 1?5 of a 28 day cycle.Up to 6 courses may be required depending on haematological tolerance.Patients who fail to respond after 2 cycles are unlikely to respond. Cladribine should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.
Schedule of Leustatin:
S4
Common side effects of Leustatin:
- Fever. - Bone marrow suppression resulting in low white blood cell, red blood cell and platelet counts.- Fatigue. - Headache.- Dizziness. - Sleep disturbances.- Back pain.- Increased susceptibility to infection. - Nausea. - Vomiting.- Diarrhoea.- Constipation.- Abdominal pain.- Rash.- Pain and swelling at injection site.- Bloating.- Fast heart rate.- Cough.- Muscle aches.- Aching joints.- Hair loss.- Increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight.
Uncommon side effects of Leustatin:
- Seizures.- Kidney damage.- Anaemia.-
