Publication

Abstract : Introduction: Chemotherapy Induced Thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a common problem in clinical oncology. It leads to delay in administration of chemotherapy resulting in inferior outcomes. Timely administration of chemotherapy is necessary to ensure maximal benefits to the patient. Aim: This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of Carica Papaya Leaf Extract (CPLE) in reducing the delay in administration of chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective single centre study conducted at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala from July to December 2018. Fifty events of chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia in forty five patients with proven malignancy were assessed for therapeutic response to standard doses of CPLE. Wilcoxon signed rank test and Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to test the statistical significance in mean values from baseline to follow-up period and to obtain correlation between continuous variables respectively. Results: There was a significant improvement in the platelet count in 54% (n=27) patients within 5 days and another 16% (n=8) by 7 days of CPLE administration. The 18% (n=9) patients took longer than one week to recover their platelet counts. The 12% (n=6) patients had deteriorating platelet counts even after CPLE intervention, one among them mandating platelets transfusion. Conclusion: The results suggest that use of CPLE may help mitigate the treatment delay in majority of patients with chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia and should be considered as an option to prevent anti-neoplastic treatment delay.