OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine if there is a significant difference in the recovery time and duration of hospital stay of patients with anti-thyroid drug-(ATD) induced agranulocytosis with and without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) therapy. It also aims to describe the clinical characteristics of patients who had anti-thyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis.
METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study of hyperthyroid patients on anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) who had an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500/?L. Their charts were reviewed for collection of data on age, gender, body mass index (BMI), type and duration of ATD and use of antibiotic and steroid. Recovery time and length of hospital stay were compared between those who received and did not receive GCSF.
RESULTS: With similar clinical features between the GCSF and non-GCSF groups, the recovery time from agranulocytosis and duration of hospitalization were significantly shorter in the GCSF group, despite lower ANC.
CONCLUSION: GCSF significantly decreased recovery time (4 versus 7 days, p=0.005) and duration of hospital stay (5 versus 7 days, p=0.009) of hyperthyroid patients with anti-thyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis compared to patients not given GCSF.