title: Outcome of Cyclosporine Monotherapy in Patients of Aplastic Anemia: Experience of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immune suppression is a crucial pillar for treatment of aplastic anemia. Cyclosporine monotherapy is an easily available, affordable therapeutic option with good safety profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted over a period of 2 years from June 2012 to July 2014. The diagnosis and response to treatment of aplastic anemia was established as per published criteria. Follow up was done at 3 and 6 months in order to assess the response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  57 patients of acquired aplastic anemia with median age of 37 years (6 to 81 years) were included in the study. 35 (62 %) cases were severe aplastic anemai, 16 (28 %) non severe aplastic anemia and 6 (10 %) were very severe aplastic anemia. At 3 months overall response rate (OR) was 7 (14 %) and at 6 months the OR rate of 11 (19.6 %) was achieved. Transiently raised creatinine, liver function abnormality and gum hypertrophy were the main side effects observed in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral cyclosporine monotherapy at dose of 5 mg/kg/day is a relatively safe treatment option for resource poor patients with aplastic anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, 8C/1/N, Roy Para Road, Kolkata, WB 700050 India.
authors.forename: Prakas Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, 8C/1/N, Roy Para Road, Kolkata, WB 700050 India.
authors.forename: Suvraneel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baul
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, 8C/1/N, Roy Para Road, Kolkata, WB 700050 India.
authors.forename: Tuphan Kanti
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Dolai
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, 8C/1/N, Roy Para Road, Kolkata, WB 700050 India.
authors.forename: Rajib
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, 8C/1/N, Roy Para Road, Kolkata, WB 700050 India.
authors.forename: Prantar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
keywords: Aplastic anemia; Cyclosporine monotherapy; Response assessment