Supportive therapies for myeloid leukemia including blood transfusion and growth factors

Bone marrow suppression after intensive chemotherapies in patients with myeloid leukemia is severe, resulting in the reduction of the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Supportive therapies are indispensable for the management of these leukemia patients. The improvement of blood cell transfusion can decrease side effects of chemotherapies and establish the safety. But we still have notable side effects of transfusion such as TRALI (transfusion-related acute lung injury), platelet immunologic refractory state, and so on. Cytokine therapy especially with G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) administration, changed the treatment of myeloid leukemia. G-CSF can shorten the duration of neutropenia and decrease the risk of infection. Recently the effects of Epo (erythropoietin) on chemotherapy-induced anemia have been demonstrated. We discuss here the indications of blood cell transfusion and cytokine therapies in the treatment for myeloid leukemia.