[G-CSF in patients with lupus-associated neutropenia and infections]

Nine patients with SLE-associated neutropenia and infections received 48 Mio U G-CSF per day s.c. for 2-17 days as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment. Granulopoiesis was normal or hyperplastic in all cases. The mean granulocyte count increased within 2 days from 1.4 per nl to 11.4 per nl. Side-effects were exacerbating CNS symptoms in two patients and a case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. G-CSF induced constantly a rapid and distinct increase of neutrophil granulocytes in lupus-associated neutropenia patients with normo- or hyperplastic granulopoiesis.