title: Antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin in children with acquired aplastic anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the responses to ATG and cyclosporin combination in patients of aplastic anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty three (17M: 6F) patients of aplastic anemia (11 very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) and 12 severe aplastic anemia (SAA), were administered antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of patents was 8 years (range 6-12 years). Three patients died within 2 months of therapy. Twenty children (11 SAA and 9 VSAA) were finally analysed. Six months after the start of treatment, 8/20 (40%) patients responded-2 complete (CR) and 6 partial responses (PR). At the end of 1 year; 2 patients maintained CR and seven patients continued PR (overall responders 45%). The response was better in SAA (54.5%) with 2 CR and 4 PR; than in VSAA (33%) with 3 PR . Eleven (55%) children were alive without response. One patient developed AML 13 months later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin combination is an effective treatment for aplastic anemia patients who are ineligible for bone marrow transplantation.
authors: Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospital, New Delhi, India. jchandra55@ yahoo.co.in
authors: Jagdish
authors: J
authors: Chandra
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Naithani
authors: Rakesh
authors: R
authors: Ravi
authors: Varinder
authors: V
authors: Singh
authors: Shashi
authors: S
authors: Narayan
authors: Sunita
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: Harish
authors: H
authors: Pemde
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Dutta
mesh_terms: D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine