BACKGROUND:

Infection remains a major cause of death in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases. One approach to the problem of septicemia and high mortality in these patients was the therapeutic use of granulocyte transfusions. Improvements in collection techniques, employing continuous flow centrifugation, permitted the collection of granulocytes from a single, normal donor in sufficient numbers to study their application in the treatment of infections in granulocytopenic patients. Studies had demonstrated the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions as an adjunct in the therapy of septicemia due to gram negative microorganisms associated with granulocytopenia.

The aims of the study were to determine (1) whether infections could be prevented in patients who received granulocytes prophylactically and (2) whether recovery from infection was aided in patients who received granulocytes therapeutically. Both trials utilized controls who received no granulocytes.

Four contracts were awarded in September 1976. The protocol designed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions was completed at the close of 1977. The protocol for the therapeutic trial was completed in April 1978. Approximately 90 patients were randomized in the prophylactic trial and 51 in the therapeutic trial. The Recruitment and Intervention Phase ended in February 1980. The trial has concluded.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Prophylactic Trial and Therapeutic Trial: randomized, non-blind, sequential. Eligible patients were randomized to daily granulocyte transfusions or no granulocyte transfusions.