CLOFARABINE

clofarabine

On December 28, 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for clofarabine purine nucleoside antimetabolite given by intravenous infusion for treatment of pediatric patients 1 to 21 years old with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia after at least two prior regimens.

The principal clofarabine toxicities were

·         nausea, vomiting,

·         hematologic toxicity, febrile neutropenia, infections

·         hepatobiliary toxicity,

·         , and renal toxicity.

·         Clofarabine can produce systemic inflammatory response syndrome/capillary leak syndrome (SIRS), manifested by the rapid development of

o   tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, shock, and multi-organ failure.

·         Cardiac toxicity was characterized as left ventricular systolic dysfunction; tachycardia may also occur.