The impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on quality of life in patients with severe chronic neutropenia

Abstract

Quality of life (QOL) was assessed in 10 patients receiving treatment with recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (r-met-GCSF). The Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index (Cancer II) was administered at three different time points to patients with severe chronic neutropenia. Mean overall QOL increased from time 1 to time 2 from a score of 23.72 to a score of 35.93 (p = 0.006). Overall QOL was maintained throughout the study with a mean score at time 3 of 36.96 (p = 0.002). Measures on all QOL subscales, including health and functioning and socioeconomic, improved significantly. Daily therapy with r-met-GCSF significantly improves the QOL of patients with severe chronic neutropenia.