TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ACUTE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was administered to treat leukopenia after intensive chemotherapy in an op en-label, uncontrolled, nonrandomized study of 26 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Results of this therapy with respect to recove ry of the leukocyte count and course of infection when compared with a historical control group of 30 patients not given rhG-CSF showed that the leukocyte count increased significantly in the rhG-CSF group (664 +/- 96/mm(3) versus 2875 +/- 4162/mm(3)); in addition, infection was better controlled in the treated group, During rhG-CSF administration, the overall leukocyte counts and neutrophil counts were higher than b efore administration, but little effect was observed on blast cells or leukocytes other than neutrophils. In addition, no severe side effect s of rhG-CSF were noted. Thus the results indicate that rhG-CSF is saf e and effective for the treatment of neutropenia secondary to chemothe rapy in patients with AML.