Growth Factors

Growth factors cause your bone marrow to produce more blood cells. They may be helpful for some patients, but they do not replace immunosuppressive therapy.

Red cell growth factor is called erythropoietin or EPO for short. It is a hormone naturally produced in the liver. Man made forms of erythropoietin come in the brand names Epogen and Procrit. Darbapoietin, is similar EPO, and comes in the brand name Aranesp?.

White blood cell growth factors are sometimes used. These include G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) sold under the brand names Filgrastim and Neupogen. Another white cell growth factor is called GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) sold under the brand names Leukine and Sargramostim.