Linezolid is safe on platelet count for AML patients during myelosuppression after consolidation chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) often develop severe infections during myelosuppression after chemotherapy. Linezolid is an appropriate choice for these patients when coverage of positive bacteria is needed. An important side effect of linezolid is linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia; so, the safety of linezolid for AML patients in myelosuppression is of concern. No study has focused on platelets in these patients.

METHODS: We reviewed 1356 AML patients who received consolidation chemotherapy in our hospital during January 2009 and June 2019. Among them, 36 patients were treated with linezolid and 41 with vancomycin. We counted the days of platelet count <20*10E9/L, <50*10E9/L, the lowest platelet count, total quantity of platelet transfusion and clinical bleeding events of these patients, to evaluate the safety of linezolid during myelosuppression in AML patients.

RESULTS: The days of platelet count <20*10E9/L in the linezolid group and vancomycin group were 6.2 ± 2.5 days and 6.7 ± 2.9 days, and the days of platelet count <50*10E9/L in the linezolid group and vancomycin group were 10.9 ± 3.6 days and 11.7 ± 4.0 days, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two groups. No life-threatening severe bleeding events occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION: This retrospective clinical study suggests that it is safe to manage AML patients in complete remission during myelosuppression after standard consolidation chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine, with about 7 days of linezolid therapy.