rhG-CSF mobilisation and collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells in 71 healthy donors

Despite the extensive use of G-CSF for mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells, the optimal schedule and dose of growth factor has not been established. Our results suggest that administration of G-CSF in normal donors (2 x 5 mg/kg/day) can mobilise sufficient numbers of progenitor cells in the peripheral blood starting between 48 and 72 h after initiation of G-CSF treatment and reaching a maximum level at day 4. A single apheresis with a large volume (4.5-fold of blood volume) at day 4 allowed the collection of the required number of stem cells (> 4 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg) fur allogeneic transplantation with lower costs and lower stress for the donor than two aphereses with a normal volume.