Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Iranian patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

Forty subjects with ALS were randomly assigned to two groups, which received either subcutaneous G-CSF (5 μg/kg/q12h) or placebo for 5 days. The subjects were then followed up for 3 months using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), manual muscle testing, ALS Assessment Questionnaire-40, and nerve conduction studies. CD34+/CD133+ cell count and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were evaluated at baseline.

Results

The rate of disease progression did not differ significantly between the two groups. The reduction in ALSFRS-R scores was greate

SUBMITTER: Amirzagar N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4387482 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature