title: rhG-CSF in severe chronic neutropenia: successful intermittent treatment in three infants.
abstract: We report three cases of infants affected by severe chronic neutropenia (SCN). All the patients were treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to avoid or reduce recurrent fevers and severe infections. In order to obtain better compliance and reduce the costs of long-term therapy while achieving the same effectiveness of therapy, we decided to evaluate intermittent treatment in patients with SCN. With a single dose of 3-10 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously every 3-7 days, the patient attained an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 0.5-1.5 x 10(9)/L, a reduction of infections, and no notable side effects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di biomedicina dell'età Evolutiva, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schettini
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor