Single Apheresis Session on the 4th Day of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Administration Seems Convenient to Collect Enough Peripheral Blood Stem Cells from Healthy Donors.

BACKGROUND

To minimize adverse events of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection in healthy donors, it is reasonable to limit the total dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and/or the number of apheresis days without decreasing of PBSCs yield. Therefore, we have started to collect G-CSF induced PBSCs on day 4 instead of on day 5. So, we retrospectively aimed to investigate the results of this 4-day G-CSF administration.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Seventy-six healthy donors who performed on G-CSF induced PBSCs donation consecutively between January 2020 and July 2022 were included in this study. G-CSF (filgrastim) at 2 × 5 µg/kg/day subcutaneously was applied. Apheresis started on day 4.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine (90.8%) of 76 donors provided enough PBSCs on day 4 apheresis session. Younger age ( = 0.004), higher PB CD34+ cell count on the 4th day of G-CSF ( < 0.001), and male donor ( = 0.010) were correlated with increased amounts of PBSCs yield. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to predict very good mobilizers (collected PBSCs ≥8 × 10/kg after the first apheresis) were performed. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, male sex ( = 0.004), PB CD34+ cell count ≥100/µL on the 4th day of G-CSF ( < 0.001), and glomerular filtration rate ≥115 mL/min ( = 0.031) were found to be independent predicting factors to demonstrate very good mobilizer.

CONCLUSION

It seems that starting the apheresis on the 4th day of G-CSF administration is effective and to provide minimal G-CSF exposure in healthy donors.