Twice or once a day? Filgrastim dosing schedule for peripheral hematopoietic stem cells mobilization.

INTRODUCTION

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the most prevalently used growth factor for peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization. Most centers split the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in two daily doses, whereas some centers administer one dose per day. This study aims to investigate the effect of the filgrastim dosing schedule on the quantity of hematopoietic stem cells collected after mobilization in healthy donors.

METHODS

A total of 251 healthy donors mobilized in our center were included in the study. Mobilization was either once a day (filgrastim 1 × 10 mg/kg/day) or twice a day (filgrastim 2 × 5 mg/kg/day).

RESULTS

White blood cell and peripheral CD34 cell numbers were significantly higher in the Twice-a-day Group on the fifth day compared to the Once-a-day Group. No statistically significant difference was shown between the two groups regarding the number of CD34 cells collected on the first apheresis day or the number of apheresis procedures needed to achieve the targeted number of CD34 cells.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that one daily dose of 10 mg/kg filgrastim is as effective as administering the same dose split on two days for an adequate amount of CD34 cells in healthy donors.