IS SERUM ALBUMIN AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF POST CHEMOTHERAPY FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA?

Predictor of Post Chemotherapy Febrile Neutropenia?

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between serum albumin and risk of post chemotherapy febrile
neutropenia.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of oncology, Liaquat National Hospital, from 1st Jan 2015 to 31st Dec 2016.
Material and Method: One hundred and sixty-six biopsy proven cancer patients with Eastern cooperative
oncology group (ECOG) performance status <2 and without significant co-morbidities received first cycle of
chemotherapy during two years study period. Different chemotherapies with moderate to severe risk of FN were used. Patient’s pre-treatment serum albumin was measured and patients followed for occurrence of FN. Association between serum albumin and post chemotherapy FN was analyzed.
Results: Data of 166 patients was available for final analysis. Post chemotherapy FN was observed in 19.9% (33/166) patients. Pre-chemotherapy serum albumin level was <3.5 mg/dl in (35/166) 21.1% of patients, out of which (15/35) 42.9% developed FN. Serum albumin (p=0.0005) was highly significantly associated with a risk of FN. On analysis of other factors age, gender, body surface area (BSA) and pre-chemotherapy hemoglobin level were not significantly associated with a risk of FN while body mass index (p=0.0005) was found to be associated with risk of FN.
Conclusion: Pre-chemotherapy serum albumin levels were found to be statistically significant predictor of postchemotherapy febrile neutropenia.