CONCOMITANT AMPHOTERICIN-B THERAPY, GRANULOCYTE TRANSFUSIONS, AND GM-CSF ADMINISTRATION FOR DISSEMINATED INFECTION WITH FUSARIUM IN A GRANULOCYTOPENIC PATIENT

The use of granulocyte transfusions during amphotericin B treatment of invasive fungal infections in granulocytopenic patients is controversial because of concern about pulmonary complications from leukostasis. Moreover, the administration of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to patients with active infections has been questioned because of reports that this cytokine inhibits neutrophil migration into areas of inflammation. We report a case in which the combined use of amphotericin B, granulocyte transfusions, and GM-CSF was safe and life -saving in a pancytopenic patient with disseminated fusarium infection. Histologic evidence of he migration of neutrophils into an area of active infection was found.