title: G-CSF mobilised granulocyte transfusions in 32 paediatric patients with neutropenic sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this retrospective, uncontrolled, observational study, the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-stimulated granulocyte transfusions (GTX) in neutropenic paediatric patients with sepsis was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Granulocytes were collected from unrelated, ABO group-matched and cytomegalic-antibody compatible donors. For neutrophil mobilization, donors received a single subcutaneous dose of glycosylated G-CSF (Lenograstim, Chugai Pharma, Japan) plus oral dexamethasone (8 mg). In total, 168 (range 1-19 per patient) GTX were transfused in 32 children with a median age of 7.4 (0.25 to 16) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The underlying diseases comprised predominantly haematooncological malignancies (31 children). In 15 of 32 patients, neutropenia was related to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. All children suffered from sepsis based on international criteria (fever, tachycardia, respiratory rate >2 SD above normal in the context of a suspected or proven infection). In ten children bacteria were isolated, in six children a fungal infection was diagnosed and four sepsis episodes were caused by viral infections. GTX contained a median neutrophil number of 6.3 (range 1.9-13.9)x10(10) per transfusion and obtained a sustained haematological response after GTX. Nineteen out of 32 children survived the neutropenic sepsis, particularly nine out of 11 patients with bacterial sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the non-survivors, we observed a significant decrease in the C-reactive protein levels shortly after initiation of the GTX treatment in the surviving patients. A clear-cut benefit of GTX for children with neutropenic sepsis cannot be concluded from these data, but in children with (severe) bacterial sepsis refractory to antibiotic treatment, GTX were feasible, safe and could reduce mortality rates in this subgroup of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, OE 6780 Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany. Grigull.Lorenz@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grigull
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pulver
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goudeva
authors.forename: Karl-Walter
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sykora
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Linderkamp
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beilken
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seidemann
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Welte
authors.forename: Hans-Gert
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Heuft
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D017708:Leukocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000628:therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein