Prophylactic Use of Ofloxacin in Granulocytopenic Patients with Hematological Malignancies during Post-remission Chemotherapy

Abstract

The prophylactic efficacy of ofloxacin (OFLX) therapy was evaluated in 51 granulocytopenic episodes in 22 patients with hematological malignancies during post-remission chemotherapy in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Oral administration of OFLX plus amphotericin-B (AMPH) and polymyxin-B (PL) reduced episodes of fever and infection more than did the control regimen with PL and AMPH alone (p < 0.01), and the reduction in the incidence of infection was evident even in patients showing severe granulocytopenia (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the first fever after the onset of granulocytopenia in the OFLX regimen developed later than that in the control regimen (p < 0.05). Clinically, the prophylactic efficacy was 92% for the OFLX regimen and 40% for the control regimen (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that OFLX is a promising prophylactic agent following post-remission chemotherapy. Patient hemomyelogram findings similar to those of patients with other malignancies may imply that OFLX is widely effective in granulocytopenic patients taking aggressive chemotherapy. © 1992, The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. All rights reserved.