EFFECTS OF HIGH-DOSE GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ON NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONS

We evaluated the effects of high-dose recombinant human granulocyte co lony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) therapy on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl -phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced chemotaxis and superoxide (O-2(-)) produ ction in neutrophils from four patients with aplastic anaemia. The FML P-induced chemotaxis and O-2(-) production in the neutrophils of all f our patients were normal before the rhG-CSF treatment. After the admin istration of high-dose rhG-CSF, chemotaxis in agarose was decreased, a dherence and O-2(-) production were enhanced in all the patients. An e xcessive increase of neutrophils with augmented adhesiveness and oxyge n radical production may be harmful. Care should be taken in regard to neutrophil toxicity when high-dose G-CSF is used clinically.