Cefpirome can also be used to treat infections in neutropenic patients. These reactions can range from pain at the injection site to pseudomembranous colitis and jaundice. Renal function should be monitored if cefpirome is given with an aminoglycoside or a loop diuretic. With the addition of cefpirome to the market, cost may become a significant influence on the choice of cephalosporins 1 for severe infections. The leukaemic cells have characteristic cytoplasmic projections and infiltrate the blood and bone marrow.
Lymphocytes contain high concentrations of deoxycytidine kinase.
This enzyme phosphorylates deoxyadenosine while deoxynucleotidase reverses the reaction. Cladribine is a purine analogue which passively enters cells and is phosphorylated by deoxycytidine kinase. However, the product of the reaction is resistant to deamination and accumulates as there is little deoxynucleotidase activity in lymphocytes. This causes breaks in DNA strands and leads to cell death. Cladribine is relatively specific for lymphocytes on account of their high ratio of deoxycytidine kinase to deoxynucleotidase.