Effects of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor on potential normal granulocyte donors.
BACKGROUND
The use of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to increase the granulocyte count and the yield from leukapheresis in normal donors is leading to renewed interest in granulocyte transfusion. Therefore, it is important to understand the side effects of G-CSF.


METHODS
We studied the effect of G-CSF on peripheral blood counts and recorded the side effects experienced 24 hours after an injection of G-CSF in normal subjects donating peripheral blood progenitor cells for research.


RESULTS
Following administration of G-CSF to 261 donors, the neutrophil count increased to 20.6 to 24.5 x 10(9) per microL depending on the dose of G-CSF. This represented a 6.2 to 7.4-fold increase over the neutrophil count before G-CSF administration. Of all donors, 69 percent experienced one or more side effects. The most common effects were: muscle and bone pain, headache, fatigue, and nausea. There was a relationship between the dose of G-CSF and the likelihood of experiencing a side effect. Most side effects were mild, but about 75 percent of donors took analgesics because of them.


CONCLUSIONS
In a granulocyte donation program involving G-CSF stimulation, about two-thirds of donors would experience one or more side effects, but these would usually be mild and well tolerated.
McCullough
J
J
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. mccul001@tc.umn.edu
Clay
M
M
Herr
G
G
Smith
J
J
Stroncek
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D001782:Blood Donors; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012016:Reference Values
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor