title: Efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in very-low-birth-weight infants with early neutropenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neutropenia is a risk factor for nosocomial infections (NI) in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Although recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) increases the neutrophil counts in neutropenic VLBW infants, its long-term efficacy for early neutropenia (EN) remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-controlled study, charts of VLBW recipients of rhG-CSF for EN (total neutrophil count <1.5 × 10(9)/L during first 7 days) were reviewed and compared to gestational age, total neutrophil count, and birth weight matched infants unexposed to rhG-CSF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven infants were identified in each group. Mortality and morbidity did not differ between the two groups. Rate of NI (16/27 vs. 4/27, p = 0.002, odds ratio = 8.36) as well as the total number of episodes of NI (22 vs. 4, p = 0.007) were higher in rhG-CSF (+) group than in the rhG-CSF (-) group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience does not show benefit in empirical use of rhG-CSF in preventing NI in VLBW infants with EN.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA. Electronic address: rteng@mcw.edu.
authors: Ru-Jeng
authors: RJ
authors: Teng
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA.
authors: Tzong-Jin
authors: TJ
authors: Wu
authors: University of Florida College of Medicine at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors: Renu
authors: R
authors: Sharma
authors: University of Florida College of Medicine at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Garrison
authors: University of Florida College of Medicine at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors: Mark L
authors: ML
authors: Hudak
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005865:Gestational Age; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
keywords: granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor; neutropenia; nosocomial infection; very-low-birth-weight