[Do hematopoietic growth factors have a role in the treatment of drug-induced agranulocytosis?].

PURPOSE: Our study was aimed at determining the role of hematopoietic growth factor in drug-induced agranulocytosis.

METHODS

Fifty-five cases of drug-induced agranulocytosis were reviewed and subdivided retrospectively into a G-CSF group (n = 15) and an untreated group (n = 40). Mortality and hematological recovery (number of days required for neutrophil counts to exceed 1.5 x 10(9)/L) were studied in the two groups.

RESULTS

The mean granulocyte count was 0.09 x 10(9)/L. All patients presented infection. In the G-CSF group, no mortality (0% versus 5%, P = 0.85) and a shorter recovery time (8.1 versus 9.5 days P = 0.39) were observed. No significant difference between the two groups was observed in either the duration of antibiotic therapy (9.3 days in the G-CSF group versus 10.1 days in the untreated group, P = 0.51) or duration of hospitalization (10 days in the treated group versus 11 days in the G-CSF group, P = 0.46).

CONCLUSION

Our results as well as a literature review indicate that G-CSF could decrease the time to hematological recovery and perhaps reduce mortality. However, the exact role of hematopoietic growth factors requires further investigations.