A common adverse effect of Pegfilgrastim is:

• A. Nausea
• B. Hair loss
• C. Headache
• D. Severe bone pain

Answer: (D)

Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor used to prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. A classic adverse effect is severe bone pain, caused by stimulation and expansion of the bone marrow as neutrophil precursors proliferate and mature. This bone pain typically appears within 24–48 hours after administration and can affect the back, pelvis, or long bones. It is often managed with analgesics such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs.

Nausea, hair loss, and headaches are less characteristic of pegfilgrastim itself. Nausea is more commonly related to chemotherapy, hair loss from cytotoxic effects on rapidly dividing cells, and headaches can occur but are not as strongly linked to this drug as bone pain.