Hemophagocytosis exacerbated by G‐CSF/GM‐CSF treatment in a patient with myelodysplasia

Abstract

We describe a 75‐year‐old man with neutropenia in whom bone marrow aspirate and biopsy demonstrated hemophagocytosis associated with myelodysplasia (MDS). Therapy with granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and granulocyte‐monocyte‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) caused splenomegaly and severe thrombocytopenia, which recurred upon rechallenge. We propose that myeloid growth factors may be detrimental in patients with MDS‐associated hemophagocytosis. Am. J. Hematol. 77:391–396, 2004.