Neutropenia complicating Rh-hydrops fetalis: the effect of treatment with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF).

Neutropenia is a less commonly encountered feature of Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn, and its management may be problematic. Two newborn infants with neutropenia complicating Rh incompatibility-induced hydrops fetalis were treated with intravenous recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), 5 micrograms/kg/day for 5 days. Both patients responded to therapy with a rapid and persistent increase of their neutrophil counts to normal values. The treatment was well tolerated and no adverse clinical events were observed. rhG-CSF induces a significant increase in peripheral absolute neutrophil counts of neutropenic neonates with Rh hydrops fetalis and was well tolerated. The contribution of rhG-CSF to clinical recovery warrants further investigation.