Clinical experience with Escherichia coli rHuGM-CSF

The use of rHuGM-CSF has resulted in patient benefit as shown by reduced infections (MDS and AA), reduced days in intensive care (ABM transplant), better adherence to cancer chemotherapy protocols, and the ability to use full doses of antiviral drugs in AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis. The adverse reactions are significant when high doses are used, therefore high doses should be avoided (there is a plateau in the dose-effective biological responses). At recommended doses, GM-CSF is well tolerated and is a valuable adjunctive therapy in the management of patients with conditions of dysmyelopoiesis and myeloid hypoplasia associated with myelotoxic therapy, or after bone marrow transplantation.