title: Granulocyte transfusion therapy in pediatric patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation:  a 5-year single tertiary care center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Granulocyte transfusion (GTx) has been used in neutropenic patients to treat infections; however, there are few studies that document its efficacy, especially in pediatric patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We, therefore, reviewed the use of GTx in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational analysis was performed on all pediatric HSCT patients between January 2005 and January 2010 who met our institution's criteria for GTx and received more than 1 GTx. Unstimulated granulocyte donors were used until June 2007, followed by dexamethasone-stimulated donors thereafter. Outcomes were infection clearance, safety profile of GTx, and 30-day survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-three GTxs were administered to 16 pediatric HSCT patients. Indications for GTx: bacterial (69%), fungal (19%), and combined infection (12%). Concurrent infections, mostly bacterial, developed in 60% patients. One adverse reaction (pulmonary toxicity) was reported. The absolute neutrophil count of the stimulated products was significantly higher compared with the unstimulated products; however, neither the average number of granulocytes transfused by weight nor outcomes difference was noticed between these groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GTx is safe in neutropenic and infected pediatric patients after HSCT. However, no difference in the outcomes was noticed between the group that received stimulated products and the group that received unstimulated products.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. hpp2103@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Huy P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rogoza
authors.forename: Brie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stotler
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker-Jones
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ginzburg
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cairo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001782:Blood Donors; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009519:New York City; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003907:Dexamethasone