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Busulphan

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Busulphan is an alkylating drug now used almost exclusively to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia; it is also used to treat polycythaemia rubra vera (1,2,3)

For chronic myeloid leukaemia it is given as either a daily dose or as pulsed dose every 4-6 weeks.

In polycythaemia rubra vera, an oral dose of 4-6mg daily effectively reduces the haematocrit in combination with venesection. It is a second-line drug due to the severity of its side-effects.

  • study evidence has revealed no association between leukemic transformation and hydroxyurea or busulphan use if used in the treatment of polycythaemia (3)

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