Ior Leukocim

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Ior Leukocim

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredient Filgrastim
Form Solution for injection (Aqueous)
Pharmacological Class Colony-Stimulating Factor (CSF)
Origin Recombinant Human Protein (Synthetic Analog)

Ior Leukocim is a prescription medication designed to help the body produce and mobilize crucial infection-fighting cells, making it a critical supportive care agent. Its core function is to directly stimulate the creation and maturation of neutrophils, which are essential components of the immune system.

What is Filgrastim and What Type of Medicine Is It?

Ior Leukocim's active ingredient is Filgrastim, which belongs to the high-level pharmacological class of Colony-Stimulating Factors (CSFs), also known as Hematopoietic Growth Factors. Filgrastim is a recombinant human protein, specifically a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring human protein, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF). This classification defines it as a biologic agent that acts upon the blood cell factory in the body, the bone marrow. Its role is clinically recognized for promoting the rapid growth of white blood cells following therapeutic interventions that suppress bone marrow activity. Filgrastim is listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, underscoring its recognized importance in global health systems for patients experiencing cell count depletion.

Composition, Form, and General Purpose

Ior Leukocim is supplied as a solution for injection, designed for either subcutaneous or intravenous administration. The medication is a single-active ingredient product where the Filgrastim protein is dissolved in a sterile aqueous solution base. The drug's general purpose is to artificially boost and accelerate the production and release of neutrophils from the bone marrow storage pools, which is a typical requirement for patients undergoing myelosuppressive treatment. By rapidly increasing the number of these critical white blood cells, the medicine strengthens the body's ability to protect against potential infections, thereby directly supporting the immune system's cellular defenses. Filgrastim is used to increase neutrophil counts and help restore the body's ability to fight infection when these specific blood cells are low.

Regulatory References

  1. Filgrastim - NCI Drug Dictionary - National Cancer Institute
  2. Filgrastim - eEML - Electronic Essential Medicines List

What side effects are possible with Ior Leukocim?

Possible side effects and safety information

Ior Leukocim (Filgrastim) has an officially documented safety profile characterized by adverse reactions classified by frequency and grouped into specific System Organ Classes, according to regulatory sources like the EMA and FDA.


Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions are organized based on the likelihood of their occurrence in clinical use:

  • Very Common (ge 1 in 10 patients): Musculoskeletal pain (including bone pain, back pain, and arthralgia), Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhoea.
  • Common (ge 1 in 100 to < 1 in 10 patients): Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), Thrombocytopenia (low platelets), Fatigue, Pyrexia (fever), and Alopecia (hair loss).

Other systems involved include the Respiratory, Vascular, and Skin/Subcutaneous systems, reflecting the drug's activity.


Serious Adverse Reactions and Safety Constraints

Regulatory documents highlight several serious and clinically significant events, which are typically classified as Uncommon or Rare:

  • Serious Events: These include Splenic rupture, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS), and Aortitis (inflammation of the aorta).
  • Population-Specific Risk: A specific warning addresses the risk of fatal sickle cell crises in patients with Sickle Cell Disease or Trait.
  • Duration-Related Patterns: Osteoporosis and long-term Splenomegaly are specifically noted in association with prolonged therapy in certain populations, such as those with Severe Chronic Neutropenia (SCN).
  • Safety Limitation: The risk of developing excessive white blood cell counts (Leukocytosis) is a high-level safety consideration noted in official labeling.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The official regulatory profile for Ior Leukocim (Filgrastim) defines overdosage primarily through the consequences of its exaggerated pharmacological action, rather than acute toxicity symptoms. The most common manifestation of over-exposure is Leukocytosis, a condition where white blood cell counts reach or exceed regulatory thresholds (e.g., 100,000/ mm^3). This excess stimulation can also lead to dose-related findings such as Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).


Required Emergency Actions

Regulators mandate seeking immediate medical attention for specific symptoms associated with serious, life-threatening outcomes:

  • Abdominal or Shoulder Pain: Immediate medical evaluation is required for left upper abdominal or shoulder pain to assess for the complication of Splenic Rupture, which has been documented in severe cases.
  • Respiratory Distress: Urgent medical help must be sought for signs of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), such as fever, lung infiltrates, or difficulty breathing.

Official Management Statements

Management Aspect Regulatory Statement
Primary Action Discontinuation of Ior Leukocim therapy is the mandated procedure if Leukocytosis exceeds the regulated threshold.
Supportive Care Management focuses on symptomatic and supportive treatment, as no specific antidote is available.

The official prescribing information also notes that severe, potentially fatal conditions like Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS) and Serious Allergic Reactions are documented complications requiring immediate medical management.

Therapeutic Uses of Ior Leukocim

What Ior Leukocim Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Ior Leukocim is a supportive medicine applied across therapeutic domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, relevant in contexts marked by increased discomfort or tension. The medication is commonly used across conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms related to severe immune depletion.

This medicine is relevant for managing symptoms that interfere with daily comfort in three key areas: conditions associated with acute or disruptive episodes, conditions involving recurrent or episodic manifestations (Severe Chronic Neutropenia), and conditions where functional stability becomes affected. It is generally used during phases when symptoms become more noticeable, such as when symptoms related to systemic imbalance manifest. In these contexts, the primary benefit is that it provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden and contributes to improved comfort during symptomatic periods.

“This agent is relevant in contexts involving heightened systemic burden, such as when symptoms related to systemic imbalance manifest.”

It is applied in clinical settings that involve acute or unstable symptom patterns, including those related to radiation exposure and applied in scenarios where additional management of discomfort is required. For chronic conditions, it contributes to improved comfort during symptomatic periods, while for acute scenarios, it may assist with maintaining functional stability during periods of immune compromise.


Quick Fact: Relief for Symptoms related to Systemic Imbalance

Regulatory References

  1. NIH MedlinePlus overview

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Ior Leukocim is a prescription medicine whose use is strictly governed by regulatory-approved population eligibility criteria. Its use is defined by absolute prohibitions and specific restrictions for certain conditions and age groups.

Populations Not Eligible (Contraindications)

Classification Population Constraint
Absolute Contraindication Patients with a known history of serious allergic reactions or hypersensitivity to Filgrastim, Pegfilgrastim, or E. coli-derived products [Source 4.1].
Malignancy Exclusion Individuals with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) or Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) [Source 2.2].

Conditional Use and Restrictions

Area Eligibility Status Regulatory Requirement
Pregnancy Conditional Use is only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus [Source 3.4].
Breastfeeding Not Recommended A decision must be made to discontinue the drug or discontinue breastfeeding [Source 3.1].
Sickle Cell Disorders Conditional/Caution Use requires caution and monitoring due to the potential for severe sickle cell crisis [Source 2.3].
Age (Infants) Not Established Safety and effectiveness have not been established in infants younger than 1 month [Source 1.2].
Organ Impairment Eligible No dose adjustment is required for severe renal or hepatic impairment [Source 2.4].

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

This section describes the officially documented interaction patterns for Ior Leukocim (Filgrastim) as reported in government regulatory documents.

Interaction Scope Category Official Regulatory Statement
Medicinal products with timing rules Cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, radiation therapy.
Specific interacting medicines Lithium.
Mechanistic basis (if stated in label) Pharmacodynamic augmentation (additive effect on neutrophil count). No formal studies for pharmacokinetic interactions are documented.
Timing-based interaction rules Must not be administered in the period 24 hours before through 24 hours after standard cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Interaction Classifications Regulatory Documentation Statement
Interaction severity Mandatory timing separation (Cytotoxic agents); Use with caution (Lithium).
Interaction-related restrictions Not recommended for co-administration with radiation therapy.

Official interaction statements:

  • Co-administration with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy is subject to a procedural constraint and is officially not recommended within 24 hours before or 24 hours after the chemotherapy agent.
  • The co-administration of Ior Leukocim with radiation therapy is also not recommended in regulatory documents.
  • Substances that may potentiate the release of neutrophils, such as lithium, may result in a pharmacodynamic augmentation leading to an officially documented additive effect on the total neutrophil count.
  • Regulatory sources state that no formal drug interaction studies have been performed, and no interactions mediated by the cytochrome P450 system or with food, alcohol, or herbal products are officially documented.

The interaction profile is structured around the procedural constraints of mandatory timing separation with myelosuppressive therapies and a single, officially noted pharmacodynamic effect with lithium. All other potential metabolic, food, and alcohol interactions are formally classified by regulators as undocumented due to a lack of formal studies.

Mechanism of Action

How Ior Leukocim Works

Ior Leukocim is a recombinant protein engineered to function as an agonist of the human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) receptor. Its mechanism is confined to the hematopoietic system, specifically targeting progenitor cells within the bone marrow.

Upon administration, Ior Leukocim engages the G-CSF receptor, initiating a highly specific ligand-receptor interaction that activates intracellular signal transduction pathways, primarily the JAK/STAT cascade. This molecular activation serves as a key signal to modulate cellular processes.

This modulation drives granulopoiesis, stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of committed neutrophil precursor cells, thereby increasing the cellular output from the myeloid lineage. Furthermore, Ior Leukocim alters specific end-cell activities, leading to an enhanced functional capacity in mature circulating neutrophils, specifically influencing activities such as phagocytosis and chemotaxis. The overall system-level physiological consequence is the targeted modulation of neutrophil kinetics and output.

Dosage and Administration Information

The administration of Ior Leukocim (Filgrastim) is governed by specific guidelines that define its method, frequency, and relationship to other treatments.

Administration Scope

The medicine is supplied as an aqueous solution for injection and is administered either via subcutaneous injection (SC) or as a short or continuous intravenous infusion (IV). The dosage is calculated based on body weight, typically starting at 5 mcg/ kg/ day for chemotherapy support, or 10 mcg/ kg/ day for conditions like bone marrow transplantation. Subsequent administration is often once daily and requires titration (adjustment) based on the patient's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) response.

Procedural Constraints and Duration

A critical procedural constraint is the timing relative to cytotoxic therapy: the medication must be initiated at least 24 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. For intravenous use, the solution requires a specific preparation step, involving dilution exclusively in a 5% glucose solution (D5W) rather than saline. Pediatric patients are administered the medication using the same weight-based dosage formulas. The duration of the course is not fixed; for acute uses, the daily administration continues until the ANC is maintained above a specific threshold, while for severe chronic neutropenia, the regimen requires long-term continuous daily use.

Connection to the overall use protocol

The official administration protocol for Ior Leukocim is structured around a weight-based starting dose and a subsequent ANC-driven titration logic. This defines a standardized daily administration frequency via the subcutaneous or intravenous route, enforced by a critical 24-hour time constraint relative to chemotherapy and specific dilution instructions that must be followed for intravenous delivery.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Ior Leukocim

Ior Leukocim (Filgrastim) was studied in clinical situations where the body’s ability to produce infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils) has been disrupted. The body of evidence consists primarily of regulatory reviews, large randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and long-term observational studies. Research highlights what has been observed so far in specific patient groups, contributing to the broader evidence landscape but not providing individual predictions.


Evidence for Use in Low White Blood Cell Counts Following Chemotherapy (CIN)

This section summarizes the structure of the evidence, focusing on the large Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses that examined the duration of severe white blood cell depletion and the rates of associated fevers and infections in patients treated for non-myeloid cancers.

Research examined the effects of the agent in adult populations who were undergoing chemotherapy. The primary outcomes measured in these short-term RCTs included the number of days a patient had critically low neutrophil counts (Duration of Severe Neutropenia or DSN) and whether they developed a fever while neutropenic (Febrile Neutropenia or FN).

Findings describe patterns observed in the studies where the measured DSN in the groups receiving the agent was reported to be less than that in groups receiving placebo. Furthermore, trials described patterns associated with a lower reported Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia in the observed populations. However, results apply only to the populations studied. There is limited information for long-term outcomes, as few large-scale RCTs have been conducted to determine the agent's impact on outcomes like overall survival or quality of life after long-term follow-up.


Evidence for Use During Intensive Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

This section outlines the controlled studies that assessed the time required for white blood cell counts to recover after intensive chemotherapy, detailing the short-term and long-term endpoints measured in trials for adult AML patients.

Findings describe patterns observed in these studies where patients receiving the agent experienced measurements consistent with a shorter Time to Neutrophil Recovery following chemotherapy. However, studies exploring long-term survival reported that the use of the agent was not associated with an improvement in Overall Survival or the rate of complete remission. The focus remains on short-term recovery measures.


What Research Still Considers Uncertain About Ior Leukocim

Research highlights areas where evidence is limited or certainty remains low. A key limitation is that for certain oncology indications, evidence is heavily reliant on surrogate markers (like DSN and FN incidence), and the agent has not been observed to influence Overall Survival in those studies. Long-term effects are not fully established across all studied indications, as follow-up durations were limited in many trials. Comparative evidence is lacking in some areas, such as detailed comparisons of different dosing schedules or against newer generation white cell stimulators.

Key Studies & References

  1. Neutropenic sepsis: prevention and management in people with cancer (NICE Guideline CG151)
  2. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (addition) – WHO Essential Medicines List Review

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Ior Leukocim (FAQ)


Q: What is Ior Leukocim?

Ior Leukocim is a medication that contains the active ingredient filgrastim. It is a man-made version of a natural substance in your body called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

It works by helping the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils, which are a specific type of white blood cell important for fighting infection. The increase in neutrophils helps to reduce the risk of infection, especially in people with a low white blood cell count (neutropenia).


Q: What is Ior Leukocim used for?

Ior Leukocim is used to treat or prevent low white blood cell counts, specifically neutropenia, in several situations:

  • To decrease the risk of infection in people with non-myeloid cancers who are receiving certain types of chemotherapy.
  • To reduce the time to white blood cell recovery and the duration of fever after high-dose chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant.
  • To mobilize and collect specific cells (peripheral blood progenitor cells) from the blood for transplant procedures.
  • To treat certain types of severe, chronic neutropenia.

Q: How is Ior Leukocim usually given?

Ior Leukocim is given by injection. The medication comes as a solution in prefilled syringes or vials. It is usually injected under the skin (subcutaneously). In some cases, it may be given as a slow injection into a vein (intravenously).

Your healthcare provider will determine the correct dose and how often you need to receive the injection based on your condition and body weight.


Q: When should I not use Ior Leukocim?

You should not use Ior Leukocim if you have had a severe allergic reaction to filgrastim, other G-CSF products, or any of the inactive ingredients in Ior Leukocim.

It should also not be given less than 24 hours before or less than 24 hours after receiving chemotherapy. Your doctor will carefully plan the timing of your injections with your chemotherapy schedule.


Q: What are the common side effects of Ior Leukocim?

The most common side effect reported with Ior Leukocim is bone pain or muscle pain (musculoskeletal pain). This is often mild to moderate and may be treated with non-opioid pain relievers like acetaminophen.

Other common side effects may include:

  • Pain or redness at the injection site
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Hair loss or thinning (alopecia)
  • Tiredness or lack of energy

Tell your doctor about any side effects you experience, especially if they are severe or do not go away.


Q: Can Ior Leukocim cause serious side effects?

Although rare, Ior Leukocim can cause serious side effects. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as a rash, hives, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
  • Signs of an enlarged or ruptured spleen, which may include pain in the upper left side of the abdomen or pain in the tip of the left shoulder.
  • Symptoms of Capillary Leak Syndrome, such as swelling, decreased urination, trouble breathing, or feeling dizzy/faint.
  • Signs of kidney injury, such as blood in the urine or a decrease in how often you urinate.
  • Aortitis (inflammation of the aorta, the body's largest artery), which can cause fever, stomach pain, back pain, or unusual tiredness.

Always discuss your full medical history with your doctor before starting treatment.

How should Ior Leukocim be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Ior Leukocim?

Ior Leukocim must be stored strictly according to its official labeling to maintain its stability and effectiveness. As a temperature-sensitive product, it requires continuous cold storage and protection from light. Improper handling, such as freezing or vigorous shaking, can compromise the medication.

Official Storage and Handling Requirements

Condition Requirement
Temperature Store refrigerated at 2 to 8 degree C
Protection Protect from the light
Handling Do not freeze. Do not shake
Shelf-Life Validity period is 36 months (unopened)

Always ensure that the product is kept away from children. Specific disposal instructions should be followed as directed by a healthcare provider or local environmental regulations. Do not discard unused medicine through household waste unless instructed to do so.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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