TREATMENT OF ALLOIMMUNE NEONATAL NEUTROPENIA WITH GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR

Despite numerous attempts to increase the neutrophil count of infants with alloimmune neonatal neutropenia, no therapy has been consistently effective, We describe two infants with alloimmune neutropenia who ha d a rapid and prolonged increase in neutrophil number after treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Patient 1 had anti body directed against the neutrophil antigen NA2, He received three da ily doses of G-CSF, and within 2 days his neutrophil count increased f rom 0.350 X 10(9) to 3.584 X 10(9)/L (350 to 3584/mm(3)). Despite cess ation of treatment the neutrophil count remained in the normal range, Patient 2 had antibody to the neutrophil antigen NA1, and received six daily doses of G-CSF, Within 4 days his neutrophil count increased fr om 0.477 X 10(9) to 4.320 X 10(9)/L (477 to 4320/mm(3)) and remained i n the normal range for II days after the last dose of G-CSF. We recomm end that treatment with G-CSF be considered for selected infants with alloimmune neutropenia.