INTRODUCTION
The collection of hematopoietic progenitor cells by apheresis, designated hematopoietic progenitor cells apheresis (HPC-A), is the most frequently used source of CD34+ cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)1. The biggest advantage of HPC-A, compared to bone marrow harvest, is represented by the large number of CD34+ cells that can be obtained, which leads to a more rapid engraftment in the allogeneic setting2. However, in order to reach the optimal target CD34+ cell dose (>4×106/kg recipient bodyweight)3 t o p erform a t ransplant, t he d onor m ust receive g ranulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilise progenitor cells from the bone marrow4. National and international guidelines recommend the first apheresis on the 4th or 5th day of G-CSF treatment (10 μg/kg, divided into two daily injections) when the CD34+cell concentration in peripheral blood reaches its maximum4-6. Unfortunately, this treatment is associated with side effects such as bone and muscle pain7, nausea7, headaches8, and
(more rarely) splenic rupture9, myocardial infarction and thrombotic events, which appear to be directly dependent on the administered dose of G-CSF10. [ ... ]
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