Effect of high-dose methylprednisolone and G-CSF treatments on lymphocyte subtypes in neutropenic children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A pilot study

Ozbek N., Yetgin S., Tuncer A.

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, vol.15, no.6, pp.539-544, 1998 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 1998
  • Doi Number: 10.3109/08880019809018316
  • Journal Name: PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.539-544
  • Keywords: G-CSF, high-dose methylprednisolone, leukemia, lymphocyte subtypes, neutropenia, COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR, CELLS
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Treatment of neutropenia with corticosteroids and hemopoietic growth factors may cause alterations in the immune system. This study investigated and compared the effects of various regimens (HDMP, G-CSF, and G-CSFS HDMP) on total lymphocyte counts and subtypes in neutropenic patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Lymphocyte subtypes were studied just prior to treatment and 1 week later: In the HDMP group, total lymphocyte counts and the numbers of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD19(+) lymphocytes and monocytes increased, while the helper/supressor lymphocyte ratio decreased. No significant changes were sea in lymphocyte subtypes in the G-CSF and G-CSF + HDMP groups, apart from an increase in total lymphocyte numbers. In the control group there was an increase in the number of CD3(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes and a decrease in the helper/supressor lymphocyte ratio. These results suggest that HDMP has an inducing, rather than a suppressive effect on all lymphocyte subtypes studied.