title: Cyclosporin A versus methotrexate, followed by rescue with folinic acid as prophylaxis of acute graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Fifty-seven patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation were randomly assigned to receive either cyclosporin A (CsA, n = 26) or methotrexate, followed by rescue with folinic acid (MTX + FA, n = 31) as prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). All patients but one receiving CsA had evidence of sustained engraftment, and there was no difference between the two groups on the day in which marrow engraftment was documented. Oropharyngeal mucositis was of similar incidence and severity in the two groups. In contrast, patients receiving CsA showed higher renal and hepatic toxicity rates than those treated with MTX + FA. Severe-to-moderate acute GVHD (grades II-IV) was documented in 12 patients receiving CsA and in 12 treated with MTX + FA. The cumulative incidence of this complication was similar in both groups (46.1% and 38.7%). Similarly, there was no difference in the incidence of chronic GVHD. The leukemic relapse rates were also comparable, as well as the estimated probability of survival, which was 55% in patients treated with MTX + FA and 41% in those who were given CsA. We conclude that MTX + FA is as effective as CsA in the prevention of GVHD, with the additional advantage of reduced renal and hepatic toxicities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hospital Regional Universitario Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gomez-Villagran
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Castellano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornes
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D002955:Leucovorin; D008727:Methotrexate