[The risks of the antineoplastic chemotherapy and the treatment of complications caused by cytostatic agents (author's transl)].

This report is a review on the most frequent toxic side effects and complications arising from antineoplastic chemotherapy. Acute, delayed and late reactions are distinguished depending on the time interval between the begin of the treatment and the appearance of the first symptoms of the side effects. Priority is given to bone marrow depression and the valid guidelines for the treatment of the patients during the granulocytopenic period. Furthermore, the cardiomyopathies and the alteration of the lungs caused by the therapy with the cytostatic agents discussed as well as the available possibilities for therapy and prophylaxis are pointed out.