[Filgrastim therapy in acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia]

To specify effects of the granulocytic colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the treatment of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia.

Thirteen patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were treated in the Hematological Clinic of the Higher Medical Institute in Plovdiv in 1996-1998. All of them received a standard induction therapy with cytosin arabinoside + daunorubicin (7 + 3 days). During the first neutropenic phase (neutrophils < 0.5 x 10(9)/l) G-CSF filgrastim was applied (5 microg/kg/day, s.c.) until a recovery of the neutrophil count reached > 1.0 x 10(9)/l and was maintained for 3 successive days. The control group consisting of patients matched by age, gender, an AML cytomorphologic variant was given the same therapy but filgrastim.

The study group showed quicker recovery of the neutrophil count (12.6 vs 16.8 days), reduced febrile period (9.8 vs 12.4 days) and shorter duration of parenteral antibiotic treatment (9.8 vs 12.4 days) compared to controls. No statistically significant difference between both groups was found in the duration of the antimycotic treatment (p > 0.05). No cytological signs of aggravation of basic disease were absent in patients who received filgrastim.

Administration of G-CSF in AML is useful as it promotes rapid overcoming of neutropenia and its complications.