About clofarabine
Purine nucleoside antimetabolite chemotherapy
Used for
- Treatment of relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adults.
Usual adult dose
Not routinely established for adults; treatment is specialist-directed.
Usual dose in children
52 mg/m² by intravenous infusion over 2 hours daily for 5 days; cycles usually repeat every 2–6 weeks.
Common side effects
- Low blood counts and increased infection risk
- Fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Liver or kidney problems
- Capillary leak syndrome, which can cause swelling and breathing difficulty
Important warnings
- Can cause severe bone-marrow suppression, infections, bleeding, or anemia.
- Monitor blood counts, liver and kidney function, and fluid balance.
- Tumor lysis syndrome and capillary leak syndrome can be life-threatening.
- Use only under specialist supervision; avoid live vaccines during treatment.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby. Avoid pregnancy during treatment; effective contraception is recommended.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment.
Interactions
- Other medicines that affect the kidneys or liver may increase toxicity.
- Medicines that lower blood counts may increase infection or bleeding risks.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.