Treatment of Cyclic Neutropenia with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

Abstract

Six patients with cyclic neutropenia were treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 3 to 15 months. All had a history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, fever, and numerous infections during periods of neutropenia. Serial blood-cell counts, findings on bone marrow examination, and signs and symptoms were evaluated before and during the daily administration of G-CSF (3 to 10 μg kilogram of body weight per day), either intravenously or subcutaneously. The kinetics of labeled autologous blood neutrophils and the migration of neutrophils to skin chambers were also measured.