Background: The successful application of recombinant DNA technology to mass
producion of hemopoietic growth factors, such as erythropoietin, IL-3, GM-CSF, and
G-CSF has led to clinical trials of these factors in patients with bone marrow failure.
Methods: We studied the changes of peripheral blood and bone marrow findings in 25
aplastic anemia patients treated with rhGM-CSF, who were hospitalized during August
1991 to June 1992 in Seoul National University Hospital. The patients were categorized
into 7 groups according to the administered rhGM-CSF levels(50∼650㎍/㎡/day). The
rhGM-CSF was administered subcutaneously for 10 consecutive days. Bone marrow
study was done at the l0th day and compared with the pretreatment bone marrow
study. CBC was done everyday during the study periods.
Results: The treaunent increased the counts of white blood cells, neutrophils,
eosinophils and monocytes. But these declined near to the initial levels after ceasing the
administration. The patients, whose pre-treatment and post-treatment bone marrow
specimens were adequate for evaluation(6 patients for M : E ratio, 21 patients for
cellularity), were statistically analysed. The M : E ratio was increased after rhGM-CSF
administration in all of the 6 patients(100%), and its mean value was increased from 2.7
: 1 to 8.0 : 1(P<0.05). The mean cellularity was slightly increased from 9.8% to 18.2%,
but it was not statistically significant(P=0.27).
Conclusion: These results indicate that rhGM-CSF is effective in stimulating myelopoiesis in aplastic anemia.

Keywords: rhGM-CSF, Aplastic anemia, Peripheral blood cells, Bone marrow