Relationships of cytokine (GM-CSF) serum concentration to blood cell countand the inflammatory parameters in children with malignant diseases

This study examined both the endogenous and exogenous (therapy-related) pha rmacokinetics of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating fac tor (GM-CSF) in neutropenic children with solid and systemic malignancies. The daily endogenous GM-CSF serum concentration before application was 29 p g/mL. During the 10 days of examination, the concentration rose to an avera ge value of 1351 pg/mL 8 h after application. A significant stimulation of the neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils in peripheral blood was documen ted. No significant correlation between the GM-CSF concentration and periph eral blood cell counts could be documented. Paraclinically, there was no ev idence for functional disturbance of either the liver or the kidneys, i.e., under the cytokine therapy. The therapy was well tolerated by all the chil dren involved in the study.