title: Fulminant CNS perivascular lymphocytic proliferation: association with sargramostim, a hematopoietic growth factor.
abstract: Sargramostim (GM-CSF) therapy was instituted in a 49-year-old woman with hepatitis C on chronic interferon alpha-2b therapy. Within two weeks, she developed progressive confusion, lethargy, and gait disturbance. At autopsy 4 months later, diffuse perivascular nonmonoclonal lymphoid infiltrates were demonstrated throughout the central nervous system (CNS). As the use of hematopoietic growth factors in clinical practice increases, potential adverse effects, such as the fulminant CNS lymphocytic proliferation in this patient, are more likely to be encountered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Mansmann
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Schochet
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C081222:sargramostim; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor