The Etiocholanolone Test for Prediction of the Leukopenic Effect of Cytotoxic Drugs

A study has been made of the blood-granulocyte response to an intramuscular injection of etiocholanolone in 44 patients prior to treatment with cytotoxic drugs. The response was considered normal if the granulocyte increment (δ G) exceeded 2,600 per μ1. No correlation was found between the base-line leukocyte and δG. Asa rule, the leukopenic effect of cytotoxic agents was more pronounced if the granulocyte increment after etiocholanolone was less than 2,600 per μ1. Nevertheless, as several exceptions were noted, in individual cases etiocholanolone cannot provide a reliable prediction of the leukopenic effect of therapy.