Background: Neutropenia recovery (NR) has been associated with worsening preexisting lung injury in up to 50% of critically ill cancer patients. However, only limited relevant data exist in the general population of hematological patients.
Objectives: To assess the incidence of acute respiratory deterioration during NR in patients with hematological malignancies.
Methods: Adult patients with neutropenia expected to last more than 7 days were included. Worsening of respiratory status (WRS) was defined as a decrease in oxygen saturation of ≥5%, the need for oxygen therapy for ≥24 h, an increase in oxygen flow of ≥50% in patients previously treated with oxygen, or the need for mechanical ventilation. NR was defined as the 3 days preceding or following a neutrophil count of >0.5 × 109/l.
Results: A total of 16 of 50 patients included in this pilot study experienced WRS during NR (32%), and 13 patients had WRS during neutropenia (26%). The incidence density of WRS was 0.53 (±0.79) episodes per 10 days during NR and 0.20 (±0.39) episodes per 10 days during neutropenia (p = 0.004). Sepsis, stem cell transplantation, preexisting pneumonia, or the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were not associated with WRS during NR.
Conclusion: Up to one third of noncritically ill hematological patients with expected neutropenia of more than 7 days experience WRS during NR. Clinical consequences and risk factors for WRS during NR remain to be evaluated.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.