Abstract
Objective:The value of growth factors use after transplantation for acceleration of haematopoietic recovery is still controversial .
Patients and Methods: One hundred allogeneic PBSC transplant patients were classified into two groups: fifty patients received G-CSF as a post transplant support; their data were retrospectively analyzed (group A) and fifty patients were transplanted without post transplant administration of growth factor (group B). Results:Patients reached neutrophil engraftment to > 500/cmm and to >1.000/cmm in 12.5 ± 0.3 vs. 13.2 ± 3.4 days & in13.9 ± 0.4 vs. 14.6 ± 0.4 days in group (A) and group (B) respectively. Patients of group (A) reached platelet recovery to > 20.000, 50.000 and 100.000/cmm in 17.6 ± 0.9; 20.5 ± 1.0 and 25.5 ± 1.3 days, respectively while patients of group (B) reached these counts in 20. 8 ± 0.1,24.6 ± 2.3 and 29.6 ± 0.2 days, respectively. Differences in the febrile days, days on antimicrobial agents, blood and platelets transfusion requirements, their costs and the total transplant cost between both groups were insignificant. The cost of antimicrobial agents was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in patients of group (B) with significant increase in hospital stay (P < 0.05) and hospital fees (P < 0.05). Patients of group (B) experienced more incidence of post transplant complications as acute GVHD, Haemorrhagic cystitis and Veno-occlusive disease.
Conclusion: neutrophil and platelet recovery and post transplant patients' needs for blood and platelet support after allogeneic PBSCT showed insignificant differences between patients given G-CSF and those who didn't. There was significant increase in post transplant complications, hospital stay and mortality in patients whom were not given G-CSF without reduction in total cost.