Colony-stimulating factors in stem cell transplantation: effect on quality of life.

Health-related quality of life (QOL) is poorest during the immediate post-transplantation period, but the impact of medical interventions during this period has not been studied. Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), which are used to minimize short-term negative outcomes, might be expected to improve QOL; however, little is published about their impact on QOL during this period. We conducted a MEDLINE search to identify studies reporting on outcomes of stem cell transplantation (SCT) affected by the CSFs, mainly sargramostim and filgrastim.