title: [Antithymocyte globulin treatment in 11 patients with aplastic anemia].
abstract: We report the response to, and toxicity of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment in 11 consecutive patients (7 men and 4 women; median age 46 years) with aplastic anemia (AA). Six of the patients had severe disease and 5 had moderate disease; all were treated within one year from diagnosis. The ATG regimen was the initial treatment for 6 patients, but a sequential treatment for the other 5. Cyclosporin A was administered orally 1-3 weeks after the ATG treatment. All patients were assessed for over 6 months (median, 20.4 months); 8 showed a good response, 1 a minimal response, and 2 no response. Disease severity had no influence on the response. In 1 patient, ATG treatment had to be discontinued because of hepatic toxicity. However, adverse reactions were not severe in the other 10 patients. These findings suggest that ATG treatment is a safe and effective therapy for AA.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amakawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum