Inclusion Criteria:

- Subjects must be 18 years or older

- Subjects may be of either gender or of any ethnic background

- Subjects must have a confirmed diagnosis of ßthalassemia major and have been enrolled
in a hypertransfusion program with a confirmed annual transfusion of ≥ or = to 100
mL/kg/yr AND ≥ or = to 8 Transfusions of blood per year over a minimum of two years.

- Patients must be off hydroxyurea (HU) or erythropoietin (EPO) treatment for at least
three months prior to entry onto the study

- Subjects must have a performance score of Karnofsky > or = to 70 of the time of entry
into the study.

- Subjects must have a normal EKG and a normal chest xray

- Each patient must be willing to participate as a research subject and must sign an
informed consent form.

- Subjects must be splenectomized or have no palpable spleen

- Negative pregnancy test, if female

Exclusion Criteria:

- Active infections including Hepatitis B and C, HTLV 1 and 2, West Nile Virus, and HIV
1

- Female patient pregnant or breast feeding

- Patients with uncontrolled seizure disorders

- Allergy to GCSF or bacterial E. coli products

- History of sickle cell disease or sickle trait

- History of thrombosis or known thrombophilia