Supportive therapie mit blut und blutkomponenten. Anämie und thrombozytopenie

Anaemia is one of the most common secondary diagnoses in oncology. The accompanying fatigue syndrome is the leading symptom reducing quality of life. Therapeutic options include transfusion of erythrocyte concentrates and the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA). The former is logistically more involved and carries the risk of infection and reaction to the transfusions, but it guarantees rapid haemoglobin increase. The ESA allow stable haemoglobin increase in most cases, but doubt is increasing about their safety in an oncological setting. Thrombocytopenias are a frequent occurrence with bone marrow infiltration and/or intensive chemotherapy in cancer patients. In case of a WHO grade 2 anticoagulatory tendency, thrombocyte transfusions are recommended. The risks are similar to those with erythrocytes. Refractory conditions can have either immunologic or nonimmunologic etiology. In case of the former, a dfferentiated search for donors is required.