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Updated: Oct 9, 2026
Proliferation and Differentiation of Murine Myeloid Precursor 32D/G-CSF-R Cells
Published on: February 21, 2018
[Signal changes of the bone marrow in MRI under long-term treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors]
A Scherer1, V Engelbrecht, P May
1Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. scherera@uni-duesseldorf.de
Purpose:
Recurrent infections in patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ib resulting from an associated neutropenia are frequently treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes occurring in bone marrow by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in these patients.
Material And Methods:
The distal femoral and tibial bones of six patients with GSD Ib were evaluated by MRI. Four of these patients were treated with G-CSF for at least 3.9 to a maximum of 8.2 years (mean 5.8 years). The imaging sequences encompassed spin-echo as well as short-time inversion recovery sequences. 4 of the 6 patients had bone marrow aspirations.
Results:
The patients who had undergone therapy with G-CSF showed a marked increase in signal strength in STIR sequences which encompassed the entire medullar cavity. In T1-weighted images these areas were hypointense. Biopsies obtained from these patients showed a bone marrow hypercellularity. The patients without G-CSF therapy showed the same signal intensity changes but with a more discrete and localized pattern in the metaphyseal cavities.
Conclusion:
In subjects with GSD Ib, an increased myelopoetic activity of the bone marrow which is intensified under long-term treatment with G-CSF can be demonstrated by MRI.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect increased bone marrow activity in patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ib. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) treatment intensifies these changes, indicating enhanced myelopoiesis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Hematology
- Genetic disorders
Context:
- Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ib is associated with neutropenia and recurrent infections.
- Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) are used to manage neutropenia in GSD Ib.
- Bone marrow changes in GSD Ib patients, particularly those on G-CSF, require further investigation.
Purpose:
- To evaluate bone marrow changes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with GSD Ib.
- To assess the impact of G-CSF therapy on bone marrow in GSD Ib.
- To correlate MRI findings with bone marrow cellularity.
Summary:
- MRI, including STIR and T1-weighted sequences, was performed on six GSD Ib patients, four of whom received long-term G-CSF treatment.
- G-CSF treated patients exhibited increased medullary signal intensity on STIR and hypointensity on T1-weighted images, consistent with bone marrow hypercellularity.
- Patients without G-CSF showed similar but more localized MRI signal changes.
Impact:
- MRI can non-invasively demonstrate increased myelopoiesis in GSD Ib bone marrow.
- Long-term G-CSF treatment significantly intensifies these MRI-detectable bone marrow changes.
- Findings suggest MRI is a valuable tool for monitoring bone marrow response in GSD Ib patients.
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