title: Volunteer unrelated donor experience after administration of filgrastim and apheresis for the collection of haemopoietic stem cells: the Australian perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Voluntary donations of peripheral blood stem cells after administration of filgrastim (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, G-CSF) are undertaken throughout the world by healthy individuals, but the short-, medium- and long-term adverse events during and after donation are not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We document the experience of donors of peripheral blood stem cells mobilised by G-CSF at Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry collection centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  When the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry commenced collecting mobilised peripheral blood stem cells, based on data used for registration of G-CSF, all adverse reactions in donors were documented prospectively to determine the rate and severity of events. A total of 512 consecutive first-time donors assessed between July 2001 and March 2010 were included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age at work-up was 40 years and 71% of donors were male. A large proportion of donors (91%) experienced bone pain during administration of G-CSF, and in fewer numbers headache (61%) and fatigue (61%). Bone pain was associated with a body mass index of overweight/obese (P = 0.03). Headache (P = 0.03), muscle pain (P = 0.03) and fatigue (P = 0.001) were all significantly associated with female sex. More than a quarter (28%) of donations involved a range of complications at collection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of short- and medium-term symptoms and events observed provide support for the information provided to unrelated donors at counselling. Follow up of the consequences of unrelated voluntary donation remains important to provide accurate and relevant information to prospective donors.
authors.affiliation: ABMDR, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nivison-Smith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szer
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061349:Unrelated Donors / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000069585:Filgrastim
keywords: haemopoietic cell transplantation; volunteer unrelated donors