leucovorinrescueta

Leucovorin rescue, also known as folinic acid rescue, is a medical procedure used in conjunction with certain chemotherapy drugs, most notably methotrexate. Methotrexate is a folic acid antagonist, meaning it interferes with the normal metabolism of folic acid, which is essential for cell growth and division. While this action is beneficial for killing rapidly dividing cancer cells, it can also harm healthy, rapidly dividing cells in the body, such as those in bone marrow and the gastrointestinal tract.

Leucovorin is a form of reduced folic acid, also known as folinic acid. It is structurally similar to folic acid but does not require the same metabolic activation pathway that methotrexate inhibits. When administered after high-dose methotrexate, leucovorin bypasses the block created by methotrexate, providing healthy cells with the folate they need to synthesize DNA and RNA, thereby preventing or reducing the toxic side effects of the chemotherapy.

The timing and dosage of leucovorin rescue are critical and depend on the dose of methotrexate administered, the patient's individual response, and renal function. Close monitoring of methotrexate levels in the blood is essential to determine the duration of leucovorin administration. Leucovorin rescue is a vital supportive care measure that allows for the use of higher, more effective doses of methotrexate while mitigating its potentially severe toxicity.