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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Br J Haematol. 2017 Mar 14;177(3):357–374. doi: 10.1111/bjh.14597

Table V.

Randomized controlled trials of prophylactic granulocyte transfusion in non-infected patients.

Study N Indication for
GTX
Stimulation
average GTX
Dose
GTX Course Overall Outcomes Fungal Outcomes Adverse Events
Clift et al (1978)a 69 BMT (HM/AA),
ANC < 0.2 × 109/l
US, 2.22 × 1010
(FL), 1.57 × 1010
(CFC)
Daily, mean
12.4 (6–25)
Fewer infections (2/29) in GTX
group vs control group (17/40)
21-days post-HSCT
Fewer deaths from fungal
infection in GTX group
(0/29) vs controls (2/40)
NS
Schiffer et al (1979)a 19 AML
ANC < 0.5 × 109/l
D, 1.15 × 1010 Alternate days,
mean 11 (3-
19)
No severe infection in GTX
group, 3/9 in control group
3/9 fungal infections in
control group
Fevers, pulmonary
reactions
alloimmunization
Winston et al (1980)a 38 BMT (HM/AA),
ANC < 0.5 × 109/l
US, 1.2 × 1010 Daily, mean
23.4 (13–34)
No significant difference 1/19 fungal pneumonia each
in GTX and control group
NS
Strauss et al (1981) 102 AML
ANC < 0.5 × 109/l
US, 3.4.x 109/m2 Daily, mean
18.5 (3–28)
No significant difference 5/54 IFI (GTX) vs 3/48
(controls)
Transfusion reactions
(72%), pulmonary
infiltrates (57%)
Winston et al (1981)a 46 AML
ANC < 0.5 × 109/l
US, 0.56 × 1010 Daily, median
24 (7–28)
No significant difference
(p = 0.48)
1/21 IFI (controls) 68% had reactions,
CMV, pneumonitis
Buckner et al (1983)b 182 BMT (HM/AA),
ANC < 0.2 × 109/l
NS Daily, median
13 (2–31)
No significant difference in
infection or mortality at 100
days
3 IFI (GTX) vs 8 (controls) Severe pulmonary
reaction, CMV,
pneumonitis
Gomez-Villagran et al (1984) 35 AML
ANC < 0.5 × 109/l
D, 1.24 × 1010 Daily, mean
6.16 (5–11)
Fewer life-threatening infections
(p < 0.01), fewer infectious
deaths (p < 0.05) in GTX group
vs controls
No fungal infections in GTX
group, 2 oral candidiasis in
control group
Pulmonary (2.3%),
febrile (57.1%) and
allergic (1.5%) reactions,
passive haemolysis
Petersen et al (1986)a 112 BMT (HM), ANC
< 0.2 × 109/l
NS Daily, median
12 (6–27)
No significant difference in 100-
day mortality post-HSCT, death
from infection
1/67 IFI (GTX) vs 5/45
(controls)
7% transfusion reactions,
mostly pulmonary

AA, aplastic anaemia; AML, acute myeloid leukaemia; ANC, absolute neutrophil count; BMT, bone marrow transplantation; CFC, continuous flow centrifugation; CMV, cytomegalovirus; D, dexamethasone; FL, filtration leukapheresis; GTX, granulocyte transfusion; HM, haematological malignancy; HSCT, haematopoietic stem cell transplant; IFI, invasive fungal infection; NS, not specified; US, unstimulated.

a

Patients were eligible to receive therapeutic GTX during the study if they developed infection.

b

Partially randomized: if only one intervention option was available, patients were allocated to that modality.