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CompletedNCT00000581Updated Nov 26, 2013

Granulocyte Transfusion Study

A Phase 3 interventional study of leukocyte transfusions in Blood Transfusion and Infection, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Completed. Open to participants aged 12 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-11-26.

Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
12 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To evaluate granulocyte transfusion therapy with respect to its prophylactic and therapeutic effectiveness to prevent and aid recovery from infection. The study trials were conducted simultaneously.

Read the detailed description

BACKGROUND:

Infection remains a major cause of death in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases. One approach to the problem of septicemia and high mortality in these patients was the therapeutic use of granulocyte transfusions. Improvements in collection techniques, employing continuous flow centrifugation, permitted the collection of granulocytes from a single, normal donor in sufficient numbers to study their application in the treatment of infections in granulocytopenic patients. Studies had demonstrated the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions as an adjunct in the therapy of septicemia due to gram negative microorganisms associated with granulocytopenia.

The aims of the study were to determine (1) whether infections could be prevented in patients who received granulocytes prophylactically and (2) whether recovery from infection was aided in patients who received granulocytes therapeutically. Both trials utilized controls who received no granulocytes.

Four contracts were awarded in September 1976. The protocol designed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions was completed at the close of 1977. The protocol for the therapeutic trial was completed in April 1978. Approximately 90 patients were randomized in the prophylactic trial and 51 in the therapeutic trial. The Recruitment and Intervention Phase ended in February 1980. The trial has concluded.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Prophylactic Trial and Therapeutic Trial: randomized, non-blind, sequential. Eligible patients were randomized to daily granulocyte transfusions or no granulocyte transfusions.

The study completion date listed in this record was inferred from the first publication listed in the Citations section of this study record.

02

Conditions studied

  • Blood Transfusion
  • Infection
03

In context

Lead sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the lead sponsor of 1,117 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.

Of its 57 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 49 (86%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
12 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Prophylactic Trial: males and females, 12 years or older, who were in the first induction phase of chemotherapy for acute leukemia, who had severe neutropenia, and who did not have documented infection.

Therapeutic Trial: males and females, any

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized

Interventions

  • Procedureleukocyte transfusions
06

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

07

References and documents

Publications

  • Strauss RG, Connett JE, Gale RP, Bloomfield CD, Herzig GP, McCullough J, Maguire LC, Winston DJ, Ho W, Stump DC, Miller WV, Koepke JA. A controlled trial of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions during initial induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia. N Engl J Med. 1981 Sep 10;305(11):597-603. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198109103051101. PubMed 6790985 ↗
  • Winston DJ, Ho WG, Gale RP. Prophylactic granulocyte transfusions during chemotherapy of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Ann Intern Med. 1981 May;94(5):616-22. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-94-5-616. PubMed 6263139 ↗
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 26, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00000581
Lead sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
First posted
Oct 28, 1999
Start date
Sep 1976
Completion
Sep 1981
Last update
Nov 26, 2013

Study contacts

Robert Gale
University of California
Geoffrey Herzig
Washington University School of Medicine
Ronald Strauss
University of Iowa
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2000. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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