Effects of exogenous recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim, rhG-CSF) on neutrophils of ill patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome depend on endogenous G-CSF plasma concentrations on admission

Objective: To investigate the effects of exogenous recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF; filgrastim) application on the neutrophils of patients at risk of sepsis following major trauma or operation. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Surgical intensive care unit and research laboratory of a university hospital. Patients: Twenty-seven patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Interventions: Thirteen patients were treated with filgrastim (1 mug.kg.24 h) for 10 days as a continuous infusion. Fourteen patients served as controls. Measurements and results: Surface expression of FcgammaR type I (CD64), phagocytosis of E. coli, and the E. coli-induced oxidative burst of neutrophils were tested by flow cytometry. On the first postoperative/posttraumatic day, endogenous G-CSF plasma concentrations were <300 pg/ml in seven controls (subgroup 1) and nine filgrastim patients (subgroup 3), and were already elevated with >500 pg/ml in seven controls (subgroup 2) and four filgrastim patients (subgroup 4). G-CSF values (P=0.0026, subgroup 1/3; P=0.0167, 2/4), neutrophil counts (P=0.0026, 1/3; P=0.0167, 2/4), and CD64 expression (P=0.00 13, 1/3) were higher in filgrastim-treated than non-treated subgroups, but not phagocytic and burst activities. From day zero to day 1, phagocytosis decreased in subgroups 1 (5/7 patients) and 3 (5/9), but increased in subgroups 2 (5/7) and 4 (3/4), and respiratory burst activity decreased in subgroup 3 (8/9). Conclusions: Besides activation of neutrophil maturation, low-dose rhG-CSF application in postoperative patients with SIRS has different effects on neutrophil functions, in part depending on already endogenously produced G-CSF.