[Hematopoietic stimulation for enhanced bone marrow regeneration after chemotherapy (author's transl)]

The aggressivity of cancer chemotherapy is limited by hematologic side effects or makes expensive supportive therapy necessary. This article summarizes known and clinically usable methods of stimulating hematopoiesis to enhance bone marrow recovery after therapy. Longest known is the stimulatory effect of anabolic steroids, which may accelerate the regeneration of granulopoiesis and erythropoiesis. Lithium increases CSA-levels and enhances the regeneration of granulopoiesis and questionably thrombopoiesis according to several publications. The stem cell shift by hypertransfusion promotes granulopoiesis. As malnutrition limits hematopoietic recovery, optimal nutrition after chemotherapy should favor maximal hematopoiesis. Further studies are necessary before the application of the above mentioned methods to stimulate bone marrow - singly or in combination - can be recommended.