The aim of the present study is to analyse the influence of the use of granulocytes-macrophages colonies stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the clinical evaluation and survival of 11 newborn infants admitted to our Intensive Care Unit, with the following characteristics: 1- Clinical and laboratory profile of sepsis. 2- Neutrophile counts under 1750/mm3 without bone marrow infiltration by abnormal cells. 3-Survival expectancy over 24 hours.

The study was double blind - placebo controled using: GM-CSF or placebo in daily doses of 5 μg/Kg S.C..Five newborn infants received GM-CSF and placebo. The drug was given until the patient reached 3.000 neutrophiles/mm3 or for a maximum period of 15 days. Laboratorial evaluation consisted of daily BC and platelet counts, Na, K, urea and creatinine 2 weekly; bilirrubins, SGOT and SGPT 2 weekly; chest X rays once a week; ecocardiographic once a week and bone marrow aspirate at the begining of the study. We observed a rapid elevation of the neutrophiles numbers in the GM-CSF group since the first day, wich peaked at day 8, however whem compared with the placebo group the difference was not statist significant (X2 4=6,42). We also did not observe a statistical difference between the groups in clinical evaluation or in mortality (only one newborn infant died and this patient was in the placebo group). None of the patients presented alterations in renal, hepatic or cardiac functions due to the use of the drug.