Action

Stimulates proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells that activate mature granulocytes and macrophages of target cells

Availability

Liquid: 500 mcg/ml

Powder for injection: 250 mcg

Indications and dosages

➣ Post peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation

Adults: 250 mcg/m²/day I.V. over 24 hours or subcutaneously once daily, starting immediately after progenitor cell infusion

➣ Mobilization of PBPCs into peripheral blood for collection by leukapheresis

Adults: 250 mcg/m²/day I.V. over 24 hours or subcutaneously once daily, continued throughout harvesting

➣ Neutrophil recovery after chemotherapy in acute myelogenous leukemia Adults: 250 mcg/m²/day I.V. over 4 hours, starting 4 days after completion of chemotherapy induction

➣ Bone-marrow transplantation failure or engraftment delay

Adults: 250 mcg/m²/day as 2-hour I.V. infusion for 14 days. If engraftment doesn't occur, may repeat after 7 days of drug hiatus.

➣ Myeloid reconstitution after autologous or allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation

Adults: 250 mcg/m²/day as a 2-hour I.V. infusion, starting 2 to 4 hours after autologous bone marrow infusion and at least 24 hours after last chemotherapy or radiotherapy dose

Off-label uses

• Crohn's disease

• Melanoma

• Wound healing

• Mucositis

• Stomatitis

• Vaccine adjuvant

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug, its components, or yeast products

• Excessive leukemic myeloid blasts in bone marrow or peripheral blood (10% or more)

• Within 24 hours before or after chemotherapy or radiation therapy

Precautions

Use cautiously in:

• renal or hepatic insufficiency, fluid retention, pulmonary disorders, pulmonary infiltrates, heart failure, leukocytosis, transient supraventricular arrhythmias

• cancer patients undergoing sargramostim-mobilized PBPC collection

• patients receiving purged bone marrow or previously exposed to intensive chemotherapy or radiation therapy

• pregnant or breastfeeding patients

• children.

Administration

See Don't give within 24 hours of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

• Add 1 ml of sterile water to powder for injection by directing water stream against side of vial and swirling vial gently to disperse contents.

• Avoid shaking or agitating solution.

• For a final drug concentration below 10 mcg/ml, add human albumin 0.1% to saline solution; then dilute drug in normal saline solution.

• Infuse as soon as possible after reconstitution, but no more than 6 hours after mixing.

• Don't add other drugs to infusion; don't use in-line filter.

Adverse reactions

CNS: malaise, asthenia

CV: peripheral edema, tachycardia, hypotension, transient supraventricular tachycardia, pericardial effusion

GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, stomatitis, GI hemorrhage

GU: urinary tract disorder, abnormal renal function

Hematologic: blood dyscrasias, hemorrhage

Hepatic: hepatic damage

Musculoskeletal: joint pain, myalgia, bone pain

Respiratory: dyspnea, lung disorder

Skin: rash, alopecia

Other: fever, chills, sepsis, edema, first-dose reaction (respiratory distress, hypoxia, syncope, tachycardia, hypotension, flushing)

Interactions

Drug-drug. Corticosteroids, lithium: potentiation of myeloproliferative effects

Vincristine: severe peripheral neuropathy

Patient monitoring

• Monitor for dyspnea. Halve dosage and contact prescriber if dyspnea occurs.

• Assess CBC with white cell differential. Check for presence of blast cells, and watch for signs and symptoms of blood dyscrasias.

• Closely monitor vital signs and fluid intake and output. Stay alert for signs and symptoms of fluid overload.

See Monitor liver function tests, and watch for evidence of hepatic damage and bleeding (especially GI hemorrhage).

Patient teaching

See Tell patient sargramostim is a powerful drug that can cause significant adverse reactions. Teach him to recognize and report serious reactions at once.

See Instruct patient to immediately report unusual bleeding or bruising or yellowing of skin or eyes.

• Tell patient drug may cause weakness and musculoskeletal pain.

• Inform patient that he'll undergo regular blood testing during therapy.

• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs mentioned above.