PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - KRZYSZTOF CZYZEWSKI
AU  - ROBERT DEBSKI
AU  - ANNA KRENSKA
AU  - MARIUSZ WYSOCKI
AU  - JAN STYCZYNSKI
TI  - Palifermin in Children Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: a Matched-pair Analysis
DP  - 2014 Dec 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 7379--7382
VI  - 34
IP  - 12
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/12/7379.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/12/7379.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2014 Dec 01; 34
AB  - Background: Keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin) is used for prevention of mucositis in adults following autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It is known that palifermin decreases length of initial hospital stay, mean number of days of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and the use of opioids for pain control in oral mucositis in adults. There are limited data evaluating palifermin use in children following autologous HSCT. Aim: The objective of the present study was the analysis of efficacy and safety of palifermin in children undergoing auto-HSCT. Patients and Methods: This matched-pair analysis study included 62 pediatric patients undergoing first auto-HSCT receiving palifermin on a compassionate-use basis (study group, n=31) or not (control group, n=31). Results: Palifermin decreased the incidence of severe (grade 3-4 WHO) oral mucositis (p=0.041), length of hospitalization (p=0.047) and contributed to the shorter duration of oral mucositis (p=0.035) and lower incidence of clinically or microbiologically documented infections (p=0.038). There were no differences between groups in opioid use, neutrophil and platelet recovery, TPN use and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Conclusion: Palifermin decreases the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in children undergoing autologous HSCT.