Abstract
Background aims. Neutropenia following high-dose chemotherapy is associated with a substantial risk of infectious complications. The aim of this study was to identify variables in residual leukocyte subsets during neutropenia that are predictive for neutropenic fever. Methods. Residual leukocytes in the peripheral blood on day 5 after autologous blood stem cell transplantation were analyzed by three-color flow cytometry in 55 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma. Furthermore, the number of T cells transfused with the autografts was determined. Results. Neutrophil counts at day 5 and neutrophil engraftment were similar in patients with and without neutropenic fever. Low absolute lymphocyte, CD4+ CD28+ and CD45RO+ CD28+ counts at day 5 were associated with neutropenic fever. T-cell counts at day 5 correlated with the CD3+ cell number in the graft. Conclusions. Our data show that the absolute lymphocyte, CD4+ CD28+ and CD45RO+ CD28+ counts play a role in host defense during severe neutropenia. The T-cell number in the graft may help to identify patients at high risk of neutropenic infections.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.