Summary. To date, no randomized study has compared different doses of recombinant human granulocyte colonystimulating factor (rhG-CSF) following submyeloablative mobilization chemotherapy. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different doses of rhG-CSF following mobilization chemotherapy on yields of CD34 + peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). Fifty patients were randomized to receive 8 (n 25) versus 16 lg/kg/d (n 25) of rhG-CSF following mobilization chemotherapy. The median number of CD34 + cells collected after 8 lg/kg/d of rhG-CSF was 2á36´10 6 /kg (range, 0á21±7á80), compared with 7á99 (2á76±14á89) after 16 lg/kg/d (P < 0á001). Twenty out of 25 (80%) patients in the low-dose and 23 out of 25 (92%) in the high-dose rhG-CSF arm underwent high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Median days to white blood cell engraftment in patients mobilized with 8 lg/kg and 16 lg/kg of rhG-CSF were 12 (10±20) and 9 (8±11) respectively (P < 0á001). There was no difference between the two groups regarding the other parameters of peritransplant morbidity: days to platelet engraftment (P 0á10), number of red blood cell (P 0á56) and platelet transfusions (P 0á22), days of total parenteral nutrition requirement (P 0á84), fever (P 0á93) and antibiotics (P 0á77), and number of different antibiotics used (P 0á58). These data showed that higher doses of rhG-CSF following submyeloablative mobilization chemotherapy were associated with a clear dose±response effect based on the collected cell yields. Based on the parameters of peritransplant morbidity, 8 lg/kg/d was as effective as 16 lg/kg/d except for a rapid neutrophil engraftment in the high-dose arm. Therefore, in routine clinical practice, despite some advantage in the use of higher doses of rhG-CSF, lower doses may be used for PBSC collections following chemotherapy-based mobilization regimens in this cost-conscious era.

Summary. This study evaluated of the effect of post-transplant recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) administration on the parameters of peritransplant morbidity. Three sequential and consecutive cohorts of 20 patients each received either post-transplant rhG-CSF at a dose of 5 lg/kg/d i.v. in the morning, starting on d 0, d 5, or no rhG-CSF. Patients who received rhG-CSF starting on d 0 and 5 recovered granulocytes more rapidly than those not receiving rhG-CSF (P < 0AE001 for ANC ‡ 0AE5 and 1 · 10 9 /l). RhG-CSF administration was not significantly associated with more rapid platelet engraftment. RhG-CSF administration starting on d 0 and 5 was significantly associated with a decreased duration of fever (P ¼ 0AE002 and 0AE001 respectively), antibiotic administration (P < 0AE001 and 0AE006 respectively) and shorter hospitalization (P < 0AE001 and 0AE001 respectively) compared with the reference group. There was no difference between the d 0 and d 5 arms regarding the parameters of peritransplant morbidity. In conclusion, rhG-CSF administration was associated with a faster granulocyte recovery, shorter hospitalization, and shorter period of fever and nonprophylactic antibiotic administration. This study also showed that starting rhG-CSF administration on d 5 may be as effective as d 0 on the clinical outcome and may be an economical approach in routine clinical practice in this costconscious era.

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We determined a positive correlation between MPV and Gensini and SYNTAX scores. Therefore, this simple haematology test can be used in determining cardiovascular disease burden besides other risk factors during routine clinical practice. For further information about this topic, large-scale studies are needed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of preleukapheresis circulating CD34+ cells/μL, white blood cells (WBC), and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis with the yield of collected CD34+ cell counts in 40 patients with hematological malignancies (n = 29) and solid tumors (n = 11). The median numbers of apheresis cycles, numbers of CD34+ cells, peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells, and total nucleated cells collected were 2 (range, 1–4), 5.5 × 106/kg (range, 0.05–33.78), 2.59 × 108/kg (range, 0.04–20.68), and 7.36 × 108/kg (range, 0.15–28.08), respectively. There was a strong correlation between the number of preleukapheresis circulating CD34+ cells/μL and the yield of collected CD34+ cells per kilogram (r = 0.962, p < 0.001). The threshold levels of PB CD34+ cell/μL to obtain ≥1 × 106/kg and ≥2.5 × 106/kg CD34+ cell in one collection were 12/μL and 34/μL, respectively. Fifteen of 17 (88%) patients who had ≥34 CD34+ cells/μL in the PB before collection reached the level of ≥2.5 × 106/kg in a single apheresis. Despite a low r value, WBC and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis also correlated with the yield of collected daily CD34+ cells per kilogram (r = 0.482, p < 0.01 and r = 0.496 p < 0.01, respectively). These data suggest that preleukapheresis circulating CD34+ cells/μL correlated significantly better with the yield of collected CD34+ cells than WBC and platelet counts on the first day of apheresis. Using a value of 34/μL preleukapheresis circulating CD34+ cells as a guide for the timing of peripheral blood stem cells collections can be time saving and cost‐effective.