Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor-Induced Vasculitis Successfully Treated With Short-Term Corticosteroid Therapy:...

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is widely used for preventing neutropenia, and large vessel vasculitis has been recognized as one of its severe adverse events. We report a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a 78-year-old woman in whom fever and right cervical pain developed after administration of filgrastim. Computed tomography and cervical artery ultrasound imaging revealed wall thickening in the right common carotid artery. We diagnosed her with G-CSF-induced vasculitis and administered prednisolone of 50 mg/day (1 mg/kg/day) to her. Her symptoms disappeared in a few days, and prednisolone was discontinued six weeks after initiation. G-CSF-induced vasculitis may be improved with short-term high-dose corticosteroids with rapid tapering.