Treatment with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor after chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was administered to treat leukopenia after intensive chemotherapy in an open-label, uncontrolled, nonrandomized study of 26 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Results of this therapy with respect to recovery of the leukocyte count and course of infection when compared with a historical control group of 30 patients not given rhG-CSF showed that the leukocyte count increased significantly in the rhG-CSF group (664 +/- 96/mm(3) versus 2875 +/- 4162/mm(3)); in addition, infection was better controlled in the treated group, During rhG-CSF administration, the overall leukocyte counts and neutrophil counts were higher than before administration, but little effect was observed on blast cells or leukocytes other than neutrophils. In addition, no severe side effects of rhG-CSF were noted. Thus the results indicate that rhG-CSF is safe and effective for the treatment of neutropenia secondary to chemotherapy in patients with AML.