EFFECT OF GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR ON SECRETION OF PROLACTIN, GROWTH-HORMONE, THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE, AND CORTISOL IN HUMANS

In order to assess the endocrine effects of acute and short-term granu locyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), we studied seven patients wi th myelo- and lymphoproliferative disorders who were given G-CSF to pr event chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. On day 0, the patients receive d a placebo; on days 1 to 4, they received recombinant human G-CSF (30 0 mu g, subcutaneously), plasma prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid-sti mulating hormone, and cortisol levels were determined at baseline and hourly for 8 hours on days 0 and 1. Additional blood samples were coll ected at 12 hours on days 0 and 1, and at 9:00 AM on days 2 to 5 of th e study. After administration of G-CSF, no significant variations in c irculating hormone levels were observed with respect to baseline and c orresponding placebo levels. The data indicate that short-term G-CSF a dministration does not cause endocrine abnormalities in patients under going this cytokine treatment.