Efficacy and side effects of granulocyte collection in healthy donors.

BACKGROUND We report on the efficacy and side effects of granulocyte collection, which is comparatively infrequently performed in Germany. METHODS Data from 378 healthy donors who underwent 914 granulocyte collections between 1999 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Donors received G-CSF (lenograstim) at a median dose of 5.58 (3.25-7.36) μg/kg body weight with (n = 243) or without (n = 57) 4 mg dexamethasone. Side effects were recorded by donor monitoring and interview (questionnaire). RESULTS The median granulocyte yield in apheresis products was 8.47 × 10(10) (3.07-14.92 × 10(10)). Granulocyte yields correlated significantly with gender, baseline WBC, PMN and PLT counts, and nicotine consumption. Dexamethasone and lenograstim administration was more effective than lenograstim administration alone (p < 0.001). Side effects of granulocyte mobilization were generally mild: bone pain in 31.4%, headache in 19.6%, and fatigue in 15.7% of donors. During follow-up (4 weeks), pruritus and/or exanthema were reported in 17.6% of donors. CONCLUSIONS Granulocyte mobilization with lenograstim with or without dexamethasone was a safe and effective regimen for granulocyte mobilization. Side effects were tolerable and milder than those seen in peripheral blood stem cell donors. Long-term monitoring of granulocyte donors is important to establish optimal standards for the procedure.