The Hemotoxicity of Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Sudanese Children with Retinoblastoma

There has been a rapid increase in cancer among Sudanese citizens from 1999 until this year. At least 80% of all patients who undergo chemotherapy will develop anemia as a complication. This inpatient analytical comparative study aims to examine the possible association between hemotoxicity and various chemotherapy regimens in Sudanese children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. This study enrolled 30 patients diagnosed with childhood retinoblastoma who were admitted from June 2006 to September 2008 to the Radiation and Isotope Center Khartoum. We collected 90 blood samples to examine for a possible association between anemia and the chemotherapeutic regimen. All patients (n=30) were included in each arm of the chemotherapy regimen. Prior to the onset of chemotherapy, 50% of patients had normal hemoglobin levels, 43.3% had mild anemia, and 6.7% had moderate anemia. Post-cycle I treatment, there were only 6.7% who had normal hemoglobin levels. Mild anemia was observed in 60%, followed by 30% for moderate anemia and 3.3% of patients had severe anemia. Post-cycle II there were no patients with normal hemoglobin levels, however 26.7% had mild anemia and the majority of patients (approximately 73.3%) had moderate anemia. A correlation existed between hemoglobin values after completion of therapy to the overall treatment. We observed a decline of 1 to 2 g/dl in hemoglobin levels.