Complications of cyclophosphamide therapy.

Cyclophosphamide is a powerful immunosuppressive agent that is commonly used clinically to treat neoplastic and inflammatory diseases affecting various sites, including the head and neck. The pharmacology of cyclophosphamide is reviewed with an emphasis on its toxicities and strategies for minimizing therapeutic adverse effects. Principles of therapy are discussed and illustrated by the use of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis, a form of systemic vasculitis with prominent head and neck manifestations.