September 11, 2020

Effect of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony–Stimulating Factor for Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Lymphopenia

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): treatment

• In preliminary findings from a randomized trial at 3 participating centers in China (n=200), recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) treatment for patients with COVID-19 with lymphopenia but no comorbidities did not accelerate clinical improvement, but the number of patients who developed critical illness (proportion difference=-13%, 95%CI -21.4 to -5.4) or died (HR=0.19, 95%CI 0.04−0.88) may have been reduced. An accompanying editorial by Meyer et al. called for subsequent studies to use updated therapies from those used early in the pandemic and to include patients with comorbidities.

Cheng et al. (Sept 10, 2020). Effect of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony–Stimulating Factor for Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Lymphopenia. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.5503