Peripheral blood progenitors mobilised by G-CSF (filgrastim) and reinfused as unprocessed autologous whole blood shorten the pancytopenic period following high-dose melphalan in multiple myeloma

Growth factor granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim) is effective at progenitor release into the peripheral blood. After high-dose chemotherapy haematopoietic reconstitution occurs after reinfusion of these peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). However, the collection by leukapheresis and further processing of PBPC are very time consuming and expensive. We have studied the transplantation potential of a small volume of unprocessed autologous whole blood after G-CSF mobilisation. Six patients with plasma cell disorders received G-CSF 10 μg/kg sc during 6 days