Science / Medicine : Immune Illness Drug Tested

A genetically engineered version of a naturally occurring hormone has shown promise for the first time for treating a rare immune system disease. The drug, known as granulocyte colony stimulating factor or G-CSF, stimulated the production of normal levels of key white blood cells in a 70-year-old woman with a condition known as idiopathic neutropenia, researchers said.

The findings indicate the drug may offer the first effective therapy for the sometimes deadly disease and for patients suffering from related diseases, the researchers said in New England Journal of Medicine.

Victims of idiopathic neutropenia fail to produce normal numbers of white blood cells that protect the body against bacterial and fungal infections, leaving victims prone to potentially deadly infections. The cause is unknown.

G-CSF has previously shown promise for minimizing the adverse side effects of cancer chemotherapy and for treating hairy cell leukemia.