Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor treatment of febrile neutropenia following remission induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia.

Recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was given for 2-6 days in 10 patients with febrile neutropenias following remission induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia (6 acute lymphoblastic and 4 acute myeloid leukemias) in which, broad spectrum and targeted antibiotherapy was ineffective. In 7 patients, the addition of GM-CSF helped overcome the serious infectious complications, leading to an accelerated neutrophil recovery averaging 18.4 days, significantly faster than in a historic group of 9 similar patients in whom GM-CSF was not given Side-effects of GM-CSF treatment were minor and reversible. GM-CSF treatment did not have any significant effect on the achievement of complete remission status.