BONE-MARROW INVOLVEMENT, IN INTENSIVELY TREATED PATIENTS WITH INTERMEDIATE GRADE NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA, IS A RISK FACTOR FOR GRANULOCYTOPENIA AND FEVER

Intensive combination chemotherapy administered to patients with non-H odgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is inevitably associated with neutropenia and fever. However, the subset of patients who are at increased risk for m yelotoxicity has not been clearly identified as yet. We evaluated 58 p atients with NHL in order to verify whether bone marrow involvement (B MI) at diagnosis is a risk factor for neutropenia and infection follow ing intensive chemotherapy. Patients with bone marrow involvement had significantly lower neutophil counts both at diagnosis and following c hemotherapy. An higher percentage of patients with BMI developed neutr openia (<1000/mm(3)) following chemotherapy. Furthermore events of feb rile neutropenia were more frequently encountered in patients with BMI . We conclude that BMI in patients with NHL is a risk factor for chemo therapy induced neutropenia and fever. The role of colony stimulating factors, administered in an attempt to prevent this complication, shou ld be explored.