The relationship between the levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and leukocytosis induced by all-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Objective To explore the mechanism of leukocytosis. Methods Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used for detec ting levels of serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 47 ca ses of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) during the treatment with all-tra ns retinoic acid (ATRA). Results The peak of increased serum G-CSF level occurred on the 9th day, an d WBC number was the highest on the 11th day. After ATRA treatment, both se rum G-CSF level and WBC number increased in 68.1% of the cases. In 19.2% of the cases treated, serum G-CSF level was increased but without obvious cha nge in WBC number, and the reverse was true in 12.7% of the cases. Conclusion Serum G-CSF level was statistically correlated to the number of WBC, promyelocytes and its late stage by Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient.