DRUG-INDUCED AGRANULOCYTOSIS TREATED WITH GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR

Drug induced agranulocytosis (DIA) is a potentially lethal disorder ch aracterized by selective neutropenia. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-st imulating factor (GM-CSF) has been utilized for its treatment. We repo rt four cases of DIA treated with GM-CSF at the dose of 5 ug/kg/day. T he patients presented infectious diseases at diagnosis. Median days to obtain 1x10(9)/L neutrophils and a normal neutrophil count (NNC), wer e 7(5-9) and 7.5 (6-10) days, respectively. The infectious disease at diagnosis improved and all patients are alive at the moment of this re port. No other adverse effects than thrombocytosis (two cases) and thr ombocytopenia (one cases) were observed. We consider that GM-CSF could be a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of DIA.