title: Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of febrile neutropenia: a double blind placebo-controlled study in children.
abstract: In a double blind study of 58 episodes of fever and profound neutropenia, children with cancer received either recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) or placebo, combined with identical antimicrobial therapy, i.e. imipenem, on admission. The criteria for discontinuation of therapy were identical. A difference was demonstrated both in the number of hospital days, totaling 252 days in the rhGM-CSF group and 354 in the placebo group, days receiving antibiotics (220 vs. 322), and in the resolution of neutropenia (4.5 days vs. 6.0 days; P < 0.05). The number of episodes requiring antimicrobial therapy for longer than 10 days was 5 of 28 (12%) in the rhGM-CSF group as opposed to 15 of 30 (50%) in the placebo group (P = 0.01). rhGM-CSF was well-tolerated. We conclude that rhGM-CSF was efficacious in accelerating myeloid recovery and reducing the length of hospitalization in febrile neutropenia.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riikonen
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Saarinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mäkipernaa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hovi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pihkala
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jalanko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor