Delayed G-CSF stimulation after PBSCT does not seem to modify the biological parameters of bone marrow recovery

There are currently no recommendations indicating when stimulation should begin after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). We compared the outcome following between two treatment groups, in which daily granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration began on either the fifth or the eighth day after PBSCT in lymphoma and myeloma patients. We studied eight clinical parameters: number of G-CSF injections, number of days of hospitalization, of red blood cell or platelet transfusions; days when body temperature exceeds 38°C; days of parenteral nutrition; weight loss and hospitalization costs. We studied also four biological parameters: number of CD34+ cells, days with leucocytes less than 1 × 10(9) /L, days with hemoglobin less than 90 g/L or with less than 50 × 10(9) /L of platelets. There were no statistical significant differences between the study arms. It seems that delayed stimulation by G-CSF after PBSCT is safety and does not seem to modify bone marrow recovery timing.