Successful treatment of neutropenia in T-LGL leukemia (T gamma-lymphocytosis) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
Severe neutropenia is a common feature in patients with T-large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia. Neutropenia often causes severe infections and septicemia, thus representing a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this disease. We have treated two outpatients with T-LGL leukemia who had severe neutropenia (neutrophils < 0.2 x 10(9)/l) successfully with G-CSF (5 micrograms/kg daily, s.c.). After 10 days of treatment the neutrophil count was within the normal range and a severe oral infection healed rapidly. We conclude that G-CSF therapy is able to normalize the neutrophil count in T-LGL leukemia within a few days and that it can be used to treat severe infections in these patients even on an outpatient basis.
Weide
R
R
Department of Hematology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Heymanns
J
J
Köppler
H
H
Tiemann
M
M
Huss
B
B
Pflüger
K H
KH
Havemann
K
K
D000368:Aged; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015461:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell / Q000150:complications*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009504:Neutrophils
D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor