Filgrastim

Neupogen (Filgrastim) and Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim) are medications prescribed to patients with low white blood cell counts.

These medications are natural proteins which help stimulate the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Neulasta has a "PEG" (polyehtylene glycol) added to the molecule making it last longer in your body than Neupogen.

Neutropenia is a low neutrophil count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that protects the body from infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Neutropenia results in a weak immune system which increases the risk of an infection.

Neutropenia is a potential side effect of chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy medications attack healthy cells as well as cancer cells and this includes attacking white blood cells.

At risk patients of neutropenia should be watched very closely for fevers and other signs of infection. Neutropenia may be diagnosed from a blood cell count.

If you have neutropenia, your doctor may need to delay chemo treatment or reduce your chemotherapy dose until your white blood cell count increases and the possibility of infection is diminished.