RECOMBINANT GM-CSF IN PATIENTS WITH POOR GRAFT FUNCTION AFTER BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

  • 1 April 1990
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (2) , 77-81
Abstract
Poor graft function after bone marrow transplantation is an infrequent complication that is fatal for most patients secondary to severe infections or to bleeding. Even a second marrow infusion is usually not successful in restoring hematopoiesis. We treated nine patients with recombinant Escherichia coli derived human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for delayed engraftment or graft failure after autologous (n = 6) or allogeneic (n = 3) bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Six patients were given a dose of 10 .mu.g/kg/d over 30 min; three patients received lower doses of 3-5 .mu.g/kg/d. Seven patients lived longer than 3 days after commencing GM-CSF and could be evaluated for their response. Six of them had a marked rise in neutrophil counts; there was no effect on platelet and reticulocyte counts. Two patients died within the first 3 days after starting GM-CSF, although both seemed to have some response to GM-CSF (increasing blood neutrophils in one, and increasing macrophages in the bone marrow on autopsy in the other). Side effects most likely attributable to GM-CSF administration were mild and included diarrhea and abdominal pain, low grade fever and mild rash. Severity of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) was not enhanced in the recipients of allogeneic marrow. We conclude that recombinant GM-CSF can be safely given to patients with poor graft function after marrow transplantation. In some patients, this may lead to a subsequently sustained neutrophil recovery.

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