Splenic rupture, secondary to G-CSF use for chemotherapy induced neutropenia: a case report and review of literature

Cases J. 2008 Dec 24;1(1):418. doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-1-418.

Abstract

Introduction: Chemotherapy Induced neutropenia is a frequent and serious complication of cytotoxic cancer treatment.Granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) are frequently used to counter neutropenia, attempt rapid recovery of patients and allow for continuation of treatment without compromise on dose, especially in curative malignancies. Generally regarded as safe, G-CSF use has been very rarely reported to have resulted in serious side effects, such as, splenic rupture.

Case presentation: We are reporting a case of a twenty years old man, who was being treated for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and received colony stimulating factors for treatment of severe neutropenia and suffered from splenic rupture, He was treated with splenectomy.

Conclusion: Although extremely rare, splenic rupture can be a serious and sometimes life threatening complication of high dose colony stimulating factors therapy.