A medicine that boosts white blood cell numbers
Lenograstim
An injection that prompts the bone marrow to make more infection-fighting white blood cells.
What is Lenograstim?
Lenograstim is a specialist medicine called a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). It prompts the bone marrow to make more neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, so it is used to raise white-cell counts after chemotherapy or when these cells are very low, and to help move stem cells into the blood so they can be collected. It is given as an injection, often under the skin. The most common side effect is bone pain. Rare but important risks include enlargement or rupture of the spleen and lung problems, so it is given under specialist care.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Lenograstim — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Lenograstim is a medicine that helps the body make more white blood cells, in particular neutrophils, which are important for fighting infection. It belongs to a group called granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, or G-CSF. It is used after chemotherapy, which can lower white cells and leave people prone to infection, to help the count recover; in some people with low white cells from other causes; and to encourage stem cells to move from the bone marrow into the blood so they can be collected for a transplant. It is given by injection, usually under the skin, under the care of a specialist team.
How it works
White blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Lenograstim acts like a natural signal that tells the marrow to produce and release more neutrophils, the cells that are key to fighting bacterial infection. After chemotherapy, which knocks down these cells, lenograstim helps the count recover faster and lowers the risk of serious infection. It also nudges stem cells out of the marrow and into the bloodstream, which is why it is used before collecting stem cells for a transplant. It is given as a course of injections timed around chemotherapy or the stem-cell collection.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A specialist injection used in the UK to raise white-cell counts after chemotherapy and to help collect stem cells.
Practical use
How to take Lenograstim
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Have it as an injection, often under the skin, given by a nurse or by you or a carer after training.
- Use it on the schedule your specialist team sets around your chemotherapy or stem-cell collection.
- Take simple pain relief as advised if you get bone aching, which is the most common effect.
- Report pain in the upper left tummy or left shoulder tip, or new breathlessness, straight away.
- Keep your blood-test appointments so your white-cell count can be checked.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Lenograstim
Advantages
- Helps white-cell counts recover after chemotherapy, lowering the risk of serious infection.
- Helps move stem cells into the blood so they can be collected for a transplant.
- Can often be given at home by the person or a carer after training.
Disadvantages
- Commonly causes bone and muscle aching as the bone marrow becomes more active.
- Rarely can cause enlargement or, very rarely, rupture of the spleen.
- Rarely can affect the lungs, and it must be given by injection.
Practical use
Good to know
The most common side effect is bone or muscle aching, especially in the back, hips and long bones, as the marrow becomes more active; this is usually manageable with simple pain relief and is a sign the medicine is working. Two rarer but important risks to be aware of are enlargement of the spleen, which can very rarely lead to it rupturing, and lung problems; pain in the upper left side of the tummy or the tip of the left shoulder, or new breathlessness, should be reported straight away. It is given by injection, often under the skin, and people or carers may be taught to give it at home. Regular blood tests are used to follow the white-cell count, and the timing of the injections around chemotherapy matters.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to lenograstim or related G-CSF medicines should not use it.
- It is used with caution in people with certain blood or bone-marrow conditions, under specialist guidance.
- It is used with care in pregnancy and breastfeeding, weighing the benefits and risks.
- It should only be used under specialist supervision with blood-count monitoring.
Monitoring
- Regular blood tests to follow the white-cell count and overall blood counts.
- Watching for upper-left tummy or shoulder-tip pain that could suggest a spleen problem.
- Watching for new breathlessness or chest symptoms, and reviewing response to treatment.
Side effects
- Bone or muscle aching, especially in the back, hips and long bones.
- Headache, tiredness or a temporary rise in some blood-test results.
- Rarely, enlargement of the spleen or, very rarely, its rupture, causing upper-left tummy or left shoulder-tip pain.
- Rarely, lung problems causing breathlessness, or allergic-type reactions, which need urgent attention.
Key interactions
- Its timing around chemotherapy is important, as giving it too close to chemotherapy can be counterproductive.
- There are few well-established routine medicine interactions, but tell your team about all your medicines.
- It is used as part of a wider cancer or transplant treatment plan set by your specialist team.
Available as: A powder made up into a solution for injection, usually given under the skin.
Answers
Lenograstim: frequently asked questions
What is lenograstim used for?
It is used to raise white-cell counts after chemotherapy or when they are very low, and to help move stem cells into the blood so they can be collected for a transplant.
Why does it cause bone pain?
Bone or muscle aching happens because the medicine makes the bone marrow more active as it produces more white cells; it is usually eased by simple pain relief.
How is it given?
It is given as an injection, often under the skin, by a nurse or by you or a carer after appropriate training.
What is the spleen risk?
Rarely the spleen can enlarge and very rarely rupture; report pain in the upper left side of your tummy or the tip of your left shoulder straight away.
Why do I need blood tests?
Regular blood tests follow your white-cell count so your team can see how well the medicine is working and adjust the plan.
The wider class
About Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)
Lenograstim belongs to the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (g-csf) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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