Impact of the neutrophil response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on the risk of hemorrhage when used in combination with tissue plasminogen activator during the acute phase of experimental stroke

Abstract

We demonstrate that G-CSF potentiates the risk of hemorrhage in experimental stroke when used in combination with tPA by inducing neutrophilia. This effect is concomitant to an increased MMP-9 release from peripheral neutrophils induced by the tPA treatment. These results highlight the potential hemorrhagic risk of associating G-CSF to thrombolysis during the acute phase of stroke.