Antibodies against carbonic anhydrase in patients with aplastic anemia.
OBJECTIVE
Antibodies against carbonic anhydrase (CA) have been detected in patients with an aplastic anemia (AA)-like syndrome after autologous stem cell transplantation.


METHODS
We analyzed sera of 53 bona fide AA patients before and after treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or bone marrow transplantation for the presence of anti-CA antibodies.


RESULTS
Anti-CA antibodies were detected in 20 patients (38%) and were associated with older age at diagnosis of AA. Antibody-positive patients showed poor response to ATG treatment (complete response 14%) and inferior long-term survival (36% at 10 years), when compared to antibody-negative patients (complete response and 10-year survival both 64%). Two thirds of patients with antibodies at diagnosis of AA became antibody negative after treatment with ATG. Clearance of the antibody did not appear to be associated with hematological improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies against CA are detected frequently at diagnosis of AA, and their presence identifies a subset of patients with poor response to immunosuppressive treatment.
Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, National Cancer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Jan
J
Lakota
Annika
A
Lanz
Maria
M
Dubrovcakova
Barbora
B
Jankovicova
Asensio
A
Gonzalez
Martin
M
Stern
D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D000906:Antibodies; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
D000906:Antibodies; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases