A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Human Newborns Less Than 32 Weeks Gestation

Preterm neonates undergoing intensive care have high morbidity from sepsis. These infants also frequently develop neutropenia, and when this is associated with sepsis, mortality is high. This study investigates the potential for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to effect a clinically relevant increase in neutrophil number when used prophylactically in high-risk preterm neonates, and assesses its safety in this population. In an open, randomized, controlled study, 75 neonates (25 small for gestational age)