cefmenoxime and Leukemia

A combination of cefmenoxime (CMX) and cefsulodin (CFS) which has a broad spectrum on various bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated for severe infections associated with hematological malignancies. Seventy one patients were treated with the combination therapy. Among them, 57 patients were evaluable for the effectiveness. Fourteen patients were not evaluable because 10 patients were subjected to additional therapy such as gamma-globulin, interferon, radiation and pulse therapy of a large dose of methylprednisolone, 3 were prophylactically treated and the remaining one was a patient with disseminated bone marrow metastasis of prostatic cancer and not a patient with a hematologic malignancy. Excellent responses were obtained in 24 (42.1%) patients and good response in 12 (21.1%) patients, with a total rate of effectiveness of 63.2%. Three patients who were treated prophylactically and one patient who suffered from prostatic cancer with metastasis to bone marrow, were included in the final evaluation of side effects. Side effects were observed in only one patient (1/61, 1.6%). Mild neutropenia was identified in a patient of 78 years of age in 4 days after the combined regimen was started. Neutropenia disappeared soon after the cessation of the treatment. These results showed that a combination of CMX and CFS was an effective and safe regimen for the treatment of severe infections in patients with hematological disorders.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacterial Infections; Cefmenoxime; Cefsulodin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged

Ninety nine patients with leukemia and/or related disorders were treated with cefmenoxime (CMX). Among them, 77 patients had severe infections, while other 22 patients did not suffer from infection, but it was expected that they would fall into serious conditions if they were infected. Sixty of the 77 patients who had severe infection were used in the evaluation of effectiveness. The remaining 17 patients were not evaluated because they were subjected to combined treatments of CMX and other therapeutic agents such as other antibiotics, gamma-globulin or interferon. Excellent responses were found in 26 (43.3%) patients and good responses in 12 (20.0%) patients. In total, the rate of effectiveness was 63.3%. Nineteen of the 22 patients who were treated prophylactically with CMX were used in the evaluation of effectiveness, while 3 patients were excluded from the evaluation because peripheral neutrophils were counted to be more than 1,000/mm3 before CMX was administrated, although these 3 patients were used in the final evaluation to examine side effects. In the prophylactic treatment, the rate of effectiveness was 89.5%. The side effects were seen in 4 patients (4/82:4.9%). A different symptom was identified in each patient. These symptoms were skin rash, mild nausea, mild diarrhea and slight elevation of serum bilirubin. Prompt improvements of these symptoms occurred as soon as CMX administration was stopped. These results show that CMX is a therapeutically effective and safe antibiotics for the treatment of severe infections or for the prophylaxis of infections in patients associated with leukemia and/or related disorders.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bacterial Infections; Cefmenoxime; Cefotaxime; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Sepsis

Therapeutic effects on cefmenoxime hemihydrochloride (CMX, Bestcall), a new synthetic cephem antibiotic, were examined in the treatment of various infections complicated with hematological diseases. The number of patients treated with CMX was 37 including 5 cases of sepsis or suspected sepsis, 14 cases of pneumonia or suspected pneumonia, 5 cases of upper respiratory diseases, 2 cases of urinary tract infections and 11 cases of other infections. All of these infections were complicated with hematological diseases: Acute leukemia, 13 cases; chronic myelocytic leukemia, 1 case; adult T cell leukemia, 3 cases; malignant lymphoma, 8 cases; Hodgkin's disease, 2 cases and myeloma, 3 cases. CMX were administered by a single intravenous injection or by a drip infusion. The dose was between 2 and 6 grams per day. Good to excellent clinical results were obtained in 25 out of 37 cases, total effective rate of 67.6%. No clinical side effects or abnormal laboratory findings attributable to CMX were observed except for light diarrhea in 2 cases. By the clinical investigation, it was demonstrated that CMX was one of safe and effective antibiotics for treating infections in the compromised hosts complicated with hematological diseases.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Bacterial Infections; Cefmenoxime; Cefotaxime; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; T-Lymphocytes