Successful treatment of chronic wound infection in neutropenia and rheumatoid arthritis with filgrastim (rhG-GSF)

A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed with seropositive destructive rheumatoid arthritis in 1981. She was treated with cortisone, chloroquine, and cyclophosphamide (Sendoxan) in 1982 and 1984 and contracted severe neutropenia. After that she only received cortisone. During 1991, again low neutrophilic counts were registered, especially granulocytopenia. At first, B-cell lymphoma was suspected, but later Felty's syndrome was established. The patient was treated with high-dose cortisone with some success and had a few minor septic episodes. In May 1992 she contracted a traumatic wound on the back of the lower leg. Conservative treatment resulted in a worsening of the condition and an increased wound area, most likely related to the neutropenic condition. In mid July the patient was hospitalized. Bacterial isolates yielded mixed gram-negative enteric bacteria from the wound. Parenteral antibiotic treatment was started, followed by oral drugs, rhG-CSF (filgrastim) was given subcutaneously once a day, starting 3 days after admission. This resulted in increased numbers of peripheral granulocytes. The ulcer started to heal and by mid August the patient received a transplant with autologous skin grafting. In mid September the wound was completely healed. It is concluded that the combination of antibiotics, skin transplantation, and G-CSF was necessary for the successful result. Actually, the bacterial growth did not call for antibiotics, but it was considered necessary to cover for staphylococci. No worsening of the underlying arthritis was observed.