Smith Robert E, Tchekmedyian Simon
South Carolina Oncology Associates, Columbia 29201, USA.
Oncology (Williston Park). 2002 Sep;16(9 Suppl 10):55-63.
Anemia is the most common hematologic abnormality seen in patients with cancer. Anemia is associated with debilitating symptoms and poorer health-related quality of life and may result in less than optimal disease/treatment outcomes. The high prevalence of anemia and the potential clinical and prognostic impact make it important to have a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related anemia. A rigorous diagnostic evaluation should be undertaken to identify the cause of anemia and guide appropriate treatment. Treatment of anemia with erythropoiesis stimulating proteins offers an alternative treatment to red blood cell transfusions and has been shown to improve quality of life for patients being treated for cancer. In addition, recent studies suggest improved cancer treatment outcomes. Data indicate that treatment with darbepoetin alfa, a novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein, improves hemoglobin levels and quality of life in anemic patients with cancer who are not receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Symptoms of anemia, when searched for properly, are identified often at hemoglobin levels less than 12 g/dL. As the understanding of the importance of anemia grows, and more convenient methods of therapy become available, patients will benefit with a more proactive approach to early treatment or prevention of this complication of cancer and its treatment.
贫血是癌症患者中最常见的血液学异常。贫血与使人虚弱的症状以及较差的健康相关生活质量相关，并且可能导致疾病/治疗效果不尽如人意。贫血的高发病率以及潜在的临床和预后影响使得采用系统方法诊断和治疗癌症相关贫血变得很重要。应进行严格的诊断评估以确定贫血的原因并指导适当的治疗。用促红细胞生成蛋白治疗贫血为红细胞输血提供了一种替代治疗方法，并且已被证明可以改善接受癌症治疗患者的生活质量。此外，最近的研究表明癌症治疗效果有所改善。数据表明，用新型促红细胞生成蛋白达比加群酯治疗可提高未接受化疗或放疗的癌症贫血患者的血红蛋白水平和生活质量。当正确查找时，贫血症状通常在血红蛋白水平低于12 g/dL时被发现。随着对贫血重要性的认识不断提高，以及更方便的治疗方法出现，患者将受益于对这种癌症及其治疗并发症进行早期治疗或预防的更积极方法。
