Treatment of drug-induced agranulocytosis with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF)

Methimazole-Induced Aplastic Anemia with Concomitant Hepatitis in a Young Filipina with Graves' Disease

A 34-year-old female Filipino with Graves' disease on methimazole came in due to fever, sore throat and jaundice. She was initially diagnosed with methimazole-induced agranulocytosis and drug-induced liver injury. She was treated with intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotic and granulocyte colony stimulating factor. On day 4 of admission, she developed pancytopenia and was managed as methimazole-induced aplastic anemia. She was started on steroid therapy and received 1 unit of packed red blood cell. The jaundice also increased, hence, she was given ursodeoxycholic acid. On day 9 of admission, with the consideration of "lineage steal phenomenon," biopsy was done and eltrombopag was started. Patient was discharged stable at 12th hospital day. This case presents 3 rare life-threatening complications of methimazole namely: agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia and hepatitis.

Use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of methimazole-induced agranulocytosis: a case report

A comparison of this case to previously published reports suggests that granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor may be associated with improved prognosis in severe antithyroid drug‐induced neutropenia, and that weight‐based doses could be an appropriate strategy.

Serum concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels in serum were determined by a highly-sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (limit of detection, 0.5 pg/ml) in 54 patients with Graves' disease including 6 patients complicated with methimazole-induced agranulocytosis. Serum G-CSF levels in patients with Graves' disease were not different from normal subjects and did not correlate with serum FT4 level or circulating neutrophil counts. Before the onset of agranulocytosis, there was no difference in serum G-CSF level between the patients complicated with agranulocytosis and the uncomplicated patients. When circulating neutrophil counts decreased to less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L, serum G-CSF level elevated with the mean of 106.8 +/- 82.2 (SD) pg/ml, but the level did not correlate with the duration of agranulocytosis. Interestingly, maximum serum G-CSF level during the treatment with recombinant human G-CSF (100 microg/day) was related to bone marrow finding at the onset of agranulocytosis and correlated with the duration of agranulocytosis (r = 0.824, p < 0.05). In conclusion, measuring serum G-CSF levels with a highly-sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay revealed that 1) thyrotoxicosis does not affect serum G-CSF level, 2) serum G-CSF level during antithyroid drug treatment does not play an important role in development of agranulocytosis, 3) the maximum serum G-CSF level in the course of agranulocytosis is related to the responsiveness of bone marrow to G-CSF and the recovery time from agranulocytosis.

Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy: association with drug-induced agranulocytosis. Report of a case

An unusual case of Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy and drug-induced agranulocytosis, as the predisposing condition, is described. The patient had severe granulocytopenia that was attributed to the recent use of dipyrone. Together with hemodynamic resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotic and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were started. Wide surgical excision of all the gangrenous tissues, in addition to laparoscopic formation of a defunctioning sigmoid loop colostomy, was performed. The white blood cell count rose steadily and the patient experienced a rapid recovery. We emphasize that radical surgery must be accompanied by pharmacologic interventions for a successful outcome in such cases.

Nonchemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis: a review of 118 patients treated with colony-stimulating factors

To determine the role of growth factors in nonchemotherapy drug-induced agranulocytosis, we reviewed 118 published reports of administration of colony-stimulating factors for the disorder. Main outcomes were total duration of neutropenia and mortality. The mean time to neutrophil recovery was 4.6 +/- 3.2 days and 7.7 +/- 5.1 days in patients with a granulocyte count at diagnosis of 0.1-0.5 x 10(3)/mm3 and less than 0.1 x 103/mm3, respectively. The mortality rate was 4.2%. Without therapy with growth factors, the mean time to neutrophil recovery after discontinuation of the offending agent was reported to be 10 +/- 8 days. The mortality rate was 16% in one study. We conclude that hematopoietic growth factors may shorten the duration of neutropenia and reduce mortality in patients with severe drug-induced agranulocytosis.

Granulocyte growth factors: achieving a consensus

A consensus meeting held under the auspices of the European School of Oncology concluded that the use of granulocyte growth factors is definitely indicated, or acceptable given existing evidence, in the following circumstances: to alleviate congenital neutropenia; in the mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells for autotransfusion; to encourage engraftment following bone marrow transplantation and in cases of failed engraftment; to support continuation of ganciclovir anti-CMV therapy in certain patients with AIDS, where the switch to foscarnet is contraindicated or where toxicity to foscarnet develops. It was also agreed that there is an overwhelming need for carefully controlled clinical trials in a wide range of indications in which growth factor use may improve outcome. In the majority of tumours, the possible benefit of dose optimisation and intensification, and therefore the role of growth factors in support of such measures has still to be defined. Extramedullary toxicities may in these instances become dose limiting.

Risks of rhG-CSF treatment in drug-induced agranulocytosis

Nine patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis received recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to accelerate myeloid recovery because of life-threatening infections related to neutropenia. All patients showed a quick recovery of their granulocyte counts. Side effects were substantial, however. Three patients, two with a severe infection and one with preexisting pulmonary infiltrates, developed worsening of their respiratory status during neutrophil recovery, resulting in clinical manifestations of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In view of these major complications, the exact place of hematopoietic growth factors in the treatment of drug-induced agranulocytosis remains to be determined.

Lineage-unrestricted hematologic response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in a patient with refractory anemia with excess blasts

We report a patient with refractory anemia with excess blasts who showed a lineage-unrestricted hematologic response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). After 17 months of a stable disease state, the patient developed pneumonia, progression of cytopenia, and reduced cellularity and blast mass in the bone marrow. He was given G-CSF to overcome the pneumonia. Not only the neutrophil count, but also the platelet count increased soon after initiation of the G-CSF therapy; both counts became normal on the fifth day of the G-CSF therapy. Additionally, the anemia improved gradually. The neutrophil and platelet counts were maintained in the normal range for 3 months after cessation of the G-CSF. In vitro studies showed that G-CSF alone stimulated megakaryocyte colony formation from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC), and accessory cells in the BMMNC were necessary for expression of this G-CSF-induced in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis. These results suggest that, in coordination with accessory cells, G-CSF stimulated megakaryocytopoiesis in the patient. This case provides valuable information for understanding the mechanisms of a lineage-unrestricted hematologic response to G-CSF, which is very rarely observed in MDS.