Normal granulocyte infusion therapy for aspergillosis in chronic granulomatous disease

An 8-year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was admitted in moribund condition with aspergillus pneumonia. Because of the gravity of the situation, normal granulocyte infusions were used as adjuncts to the more conventional antimicrobial therapy. White blood cells, derived from a total of 58 units of whole blood obtained by leukophoresis of the father, were given in two separate doses. The first dose, totaling 2.8 x 1010 granulocytes, was coincident with significant improvement, and the second, totaling 3.0 x 1010 granulocytes, was coincident with the onset of clinical improvement and interim recovery. Transient improvement in in vitro granulocyte function was noted in cells taken from the patient's blood immediately after infusion. No adverse effects of the infusions were noted in either the patient or the donor. Although it is impossible to divorce the therapeutic effect of the granulocyte infusions from the more conventional therapy, we conclude that normal granulocyte infusions can be considered a valid adjunct in children with CGD who are suffering from a life-threatening infection.