title: Low dose antithymocyte globulin for the treatment of older patients with aplastic anaemia.
abstract: We report 14 older patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) who were treated with 'low dose' antithymocyte globulin (ATG). The aims of the study were to assess the efficacy and safety of reduced dose ATG in patients over the age of 60 years. Median age was 71 years (range 62-74 years). At the study endpoint (response to treatment at 6 months) 12 patients were evaluable. All patients received lymphoglobuline (horse ATG; Genzyme) at a dose of 0.5vials/10kg/day for 5 days (5mg/kg/day, equivalent to one-third of the standard dose). There were no deaths attributed to ATG. Two patients died during follow-up, from sepsis and anaphylaxis following platelet transfusion, respectively. Only one of the 12 evaluable patients responded to treatment and remains transfusion independent at 14 months after ATG. These results suggest that this lower dose of ATG, though well tolerated, had low efficacy in the treatment of AA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth BH7 7DW, UK. sally.killick@rbch.nhs.uk
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Killick
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cavenagh
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: J C W
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents