SEIFEM 2017: from real life to an agreement on the use of granulocyte transfusions and colony-stimulating factors for prophylaxis and treatment of infectious complications in patients with hematologic malignant disorders. Issue 2 (1st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Busca, Alessandro; Cesaro, Simone; Teofili, Luciana; Delia, Mario; Cattaneo, Chiara; Criscuolo, Marianna; Marchesi, Francesco; Fracchiolla, Nicola Stefano; Valentini, Caterina Giovanna; Farina, Francesca; Di Blasi, Roberta; Prezioso, Lucia; Spolzino, Angelica; Candoni, Anna; del Principe, Maria Ilaria; Verga, Luisa; Nosari, Annamaria; Aversa, Franco; Pagano, Livio
• Is Part Of: Expert review of hematology. Volume 11:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2018-02-01
• Subjects: Hematologic malignancies -- infectious complications -- invasive fungal infections -- granulocyte transfusions -- colony-stimulating factors; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2018.1420472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-4086

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction : The rapid spread of severe infections mainly due to resistant pathogens, justifies the search for therapies aiming to restore immune functions severely compromised in patients with hematologic malignancies. Areas covered : The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of granulocyte transfusions and colony-stimulating factors as treatment strategy for hematologic patients with serious infectious complications. In addition, a survey among 21 hematologic centers, to evaluate the clinical practice for the use of G-CSF originator and biosimilars was performed. Expert commentary : Granulocyte transfusions with a target dose of at least 1.5-3 × 10 8 cells/kg, may be considered as an approach to bridge the gap between marrow suppression and recovery of granulocytes. G-CSF shortens the period of neutropenia, the hospitalization, the use of antibiotics and the rate of febrile neutropenia (FN) in adult and pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and in adults with acute myeloid leukemia where these advantages nevertheless, did not translate into a clinical benefit. G-CSF biosimilar showed equivalence or non-inferiority to filgrastim. There are no data supporting the use of GM-CSF, eltrombopag and erythropoietin for preventing or treating infectious complications in patients with hematologic disorders.