Which medication is often used to treat chemo-induced leukopenia?

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Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that is specifically designed to promote the production of white blood cells, particularly neutrophils, in the bone marrow. It is commonly used to treat cancer patients who develop leukopenia as a result of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can lower the white blood cell count, increasing the risk of infections. By administering filgrastim, healthcare providers can help mitigate this effect, thereby reducing the incidence of infections and allowing patients to continue with their cancer treatment without significant delays.

The other medications listed serve different purposes:

Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent used as a chemotherapy drug but does not serve to treat leukopenia itself. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody primarily used to treat certain types of lymphomas and autoimmune diseases, not specifically to stimulate white blood cell production. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that can serve various roles in cancer treatment, including reducing inflammation and managing side effects of chemotherapy, but it does not directly stimulate white blood cell production like filgrastim does.

Therefore, filgrastim is the appropriate choice for addressing chemo-induced leukopenia.

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