title: Low doses of high-potency antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in severe aplastic anemia: experience with the Mexican ATG.
abstract: Twenty patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) were treated with low doses (1-5 mg/kg/day) of a high-potency antithymocyte globulin (ATG) produced in Mexico, shown to have at least a 10-fold potency as compared with other globulins of commercial sources. Patients received ATG within a 10-day period, every other day (5 doses) at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day (4 courses), 2 mg/kg/day (12 courses) or 5 mg/kg/day (8 courses). Four patients received 2 consecutive courses of different doses of ATG. A response rate of 42% was recorded in the group, assessed by means of increases in reticulocytes, granulocytes or platelets. One patient showed a complete remission. The 570-day survival of the group was 51%. It is concluded that the domestically produced ATG is useful in the treatment of some patients with SAA in Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Centro Médico de Occidente/Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Mexico.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Delgado-Lamas
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: López-Karpovitch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marín-López
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romero-García
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Argüelles
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Gonzalez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Villegas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elena Zarzosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D011241:Prednisone