Cytokine treatment of severe chronic neutropenia Journal Article

  


Author: Bonilla, M. A.
Article Title: Cytokine treatment of severe chronic neutropenia
Abstract: Severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 500 eells/mm(3)) is associated with life-threatening infections. Therapeutic regimens used to ameliorate severe neutropenia have been of limited benefit. The newly discovered cytokines acting primarily on granulocytic differentiation are an important new therapeutic modality in inherited and acquired neutropenic disorders. Very encouraging results in early phase I-II trials in neutropenic patients led to the implementation of a phase III randomized multi-center trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of G-CSF in these disorders. Of 120 patients with severe neutropenia entered on the phase III study, 108 experienced a complete response, 4 a partial response and 8 failed to respond. Response was associated with improvement in quality of life with reductions in infections and antibiotic usage. Reasons for non-response are currently be investigated. The long-term effects of cytokine administration to neutropenic patients is unknown. Osteopenia and secondary myelodysplasia or leukemia are beginning to be reported. For this reason only patients with severe neutropenia or those exhibiting serious infection should receive cytokine therapy at this time.
Keywords: blood; myeloid progenitor cells; colony-stimulating factor; gm-csf; mononuclear-cells; stem-cell factor; shwachman-diamond syndrome; severe congenital neutropenia; glycogen-storage-disease; human cyclic neutropenia; abnormal responses
Journal Title: International Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1070-2903
Publisher: Harwood Acad Publ Gmbh  
Date Published: 1995-01-01
Start Page: 117
End Page: 124
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:A1995RJ12900005
PROVIDER: wos
Notes: Article -- Source: Wos