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While undergoing treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the patient must be closely monitored for complications which may develop. Treatment for some of these complications includes:

• Antibiotics may be needed to prevent or treat infection
• Allopurinol may be given for a few days to protect kidney function
• Antiemetics may be used to reduce nausea and vomiting
• Blood growth factors may be used to accelerate normal marrow recovery
• Red blood cell and platelet transfusions will be necessary during treatment, White blood cell transfusions may be available at larger centers and may be useful in cases of severe infection.

• Colony Stimulating Factors- these drugs may be used in elderly AML patients who develop fever and/or infection. Examples include:

  • granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)
  • granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)

• Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy has limited use in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia. It may be used locally to treat cancer that has spread to the central nervous system (CNS) or to the testicles. Radiation may also be used to treat the whole body prior to stem cell transplantation.