[Treatment of aplastic anemia with anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine].
Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is an effective immunosuppressive therapy for aplastic anemia (AA). We administered ATG combined with cyclosporine (CyA), to 9 patients (4 men and 5 women; median age, 55 years). AA was severe in 8 patients and moderate in 1. The ATG and CyA regimen was the initial treatment for 3 patients, but sequential treatment for the other 6, who were refractory to other agents. Peripheral T lymphocytes, including CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells, decreased rapidly after treatment. Although 1 patient died of pulmonary hemorrhage during the 6-month period following treatment with this combined regimen, 3 showed a favorable response, 2 moderate response, and 3 no response at all. Adverse drug reactions, including transient fever and rash, were not severe. These findings suggested that ATG and CyA in combination are a safe and effective immunosuppressive regimen for initial and refractory patients with AA.
Ohnishi
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital.
Nakagawa
M
M
Kobayashi
N
N
Ogasawara
M
M
Kiyama
Y
Y
Naohara
T
T
Higa
T
T
Kasai
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine