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Piekarska A, Pawelec K, Szmigielska-Kapłon A, Ussowicz M. The state of the art in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia: immunotherapy and hematopoietic cell transplantation in children and adults. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1378432. [PMID: 38646536 PMCID: PMC11026616 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1378432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is an immune-mediated bone marrow (BM) failure where marrow disruption is driven by a cytotoxic T-cell-mediated autoimmune attack against hematopoietic stem cells. The key diagnostic challenge in children, but also in adults, is to exclude the possible underlying congenital condition and myelodysplasia. The choice of treatment options, either allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) or immunosuppressive therapy (IST), depends on the patient's age, comorbidities, and access to a suitable donor and effective therapeutic agents. Since 2022, horse antithymocyte globulin (hATG) has been available again in Europe and is recommended for IST as a more effective option than rabbit ATG. Therefore, an update on immunosuppressive strategies is warranted. Despite an improved response to the new immunosuppression protocols with hATG and eltrombopag, some patients are not cured or remain at risk of aplasia relapse or clonal evolution and require postponed alloHCT. The transplantation field has evolved, becoming safer and more accessible. Upfront alloHCT from unrelated donors is becoming a tempting option. With the use of posttransplant cyclophosphamide, haploidentical HCT offers promising outcomes also in AA. In this paper, we present the state of the art in the management of severe AA for pediatric and adult patients based on the available guidelines and recently published studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Piekarska
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pawelec
- Department of Oncology, Pediatric Hematology, Clinical Transplantology and Pediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Marek Ussowicz
- Department of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation, Oncology and Hematology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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Kulasekararaj A, Cavenagh J, Dokal I, Foukaneli T, Gandhi S, Garg M, Griffin M, Hillmen P, Ireland R, Killick S, Mansour S, Mufti G, Potter V, Snowden J, Stanworth S, Zuha R, Marsh J. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of adult aplastic anaemia: A British Society for Haematology Guideline. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:784-804. [PMID: 38247114 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Pancytopenia with hypocellular bone marrow is the hallmark of aplastic anaemia (AA) and the diagnosis is confirmed after careful evaluation, following exclusion of alternate diagnosis including hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndromes. Emerging use of molecular cyto-genomics is helpful in delineating immune mediated AA from inherited bone marrow failures (IBMF). Camitta criteria is used to assess disease severity, which along with age and availability of human leucocyte antigen compatible donor are determinants for therapeutic decisions. Supportive care with blood and platelet transfusion support, along with anti-microbial prophylaxis and prompt management of opportunistic infections remain key throughout the disease course. The standard first-line treatment for newly diagnosed acquired severe/very severe AA patients is horse anti-thymocyte globulin and ciclosporin-based immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with eltrombopag or allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from a matched sibling donor. Unrelated donor HSCT in adults should be considered after lack of response to IST, and up front for young adults with severe infections and a readily available matched unrelated donor. Management of IBMF, AA in pregnancy and in elderly require special attention. In view of the rarity of AA and complexity of management, appropriate discussion in multidisciplinary meetings and involvement of expert centres is strongly recommended to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Kulasekararaj
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Cavenagh
- St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Inderjeet Dokal
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Theodora Foukaneli
- Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Bristol, UK
| | - Shreyans Gandhi
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mamta Garg
- Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK
- British Society Haematology Task Force Representative, London, UK
| | | | | | - Robin Ireland
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sally Killick
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, UK
| | - Sahar Mansour
- St George's Hospital/St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Ghulam Mufti
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Potter
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
| | - John Snowden
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Simon Stanworth
- Transfusion Medicine, NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford, UK
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Roslin Zuha
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
| | - Judith Marsh
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London and King's College London, London, UK
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Vaht K, Brenner J, Ednersson SB, Ljungman P, Brune M, Andersson PO. Bone marrow expression of CD68/CD163 macrophages, IL-17 and FOXP3 cells in aplastic anemia and their relation to prognosis. Eur J Haematol 2023; 110:313-321. [PMID: 36469034 PMCID: PMC10108308 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primary mechanism for bone marrow failure in aplastic anemia (AA) is autoimmune hematopoietic stem cell destruction. AA can be cured with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment, and some smaller studies have indicated that the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may be predictive of response. Additionally, AA patients appear to have elevated numbers of Th17 cells and bone marrow macrophages, but outcome data are missing. METHODS We performed immunohistochemistry on bone marrow biopsies from 121 ATG-treated AA patients and 14 healthy controls, using antibodies against FOXP3 (for Tregs), IL-17 (for Th17), CD68 (for pan-macrophages) and CD163 (for M2 type macrophages) to study their possible relation to ATG response and AA prognosis. RESULTS AA patients had significantly fewer Tregs and Th17 cells but significantly more macrophages compared with controls. Treg, Th17 and pan-macrophage cell numbers were not associated with ATG response or differences in survival. Patients with higher levels of M2 macrophages had improved 5-year overall survival: 79.6% versus 57.4% (p = .017), and this benefit was primarily seen in AA patients with non-severe disease. CONCLUSIONS We found that Treg and Th17 cell numbers did not predict ATG response or survival, whereas M2 macrophages may be associated with improved survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Vaht
- Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Brenner
- Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Susanne Bram Ednersson
- Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per Ljungman
- Centre of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital and Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Brune
- Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Ola Andersson
- Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
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4
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Shen Y, Liu Q, Li H, Liu W, Hu H, Zhao Y, Li Y, Chen Y, Liu S, Yu Q, Zhuang H, Wu L, Hu Z, Zheng Z, Shen J, Lin S, Shen Y, Zhou Y, Ye B, Wu D. Whole-exome sequencing identifies FANC heterozygous germline mutation as an adverse factor for immunosuppressive therapy in Chinese aplastic anemia patients aged 40 or younger: a single-center retrospective study. Ann Hematol 2023; 102:503-517. [PMID: 36622392 PMCID: PMC9977704 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05086-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure disorder characterized by pancytopenia, and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is the optional first-line management. Several studies identified the influencing factors on IST response; however, there are still a considerable number of patients suffering from poor prognoses. In this study, we enrolled 61 AA patients aged ≤ 40 years old, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) found unexpected high FANC heterozygous germline mutations (28/61, 45.9%). Patients with FANC mutations have a significantly lower absolute reticulocyte count and CD34+ % in the bone marrow and also lower 3-, 6-, and 9-month IST response than that without mutation, which were 0% vs. 25% (P = 0.017), 26.3% vs. 42.1% (P = 0.495), and 29.4% vs. 72.2% (P = 0.011), especially in anti-thymocyte globulin combined with the cyclosporin A (ATG + CsA) group, which were 0% vs.33.4% (P = 0.143), 25% vs.83.3% (P = 0.103), and 25% vs. 100% (P = 0.003), respectively. The event-free survival in the FANCwt group was also better than that in the FANCmut group (P = 0.016) and also showed in patients who received ATG + CsA treatment (P = 0.045). In addition, all the adverse effects of FANC germline mutation were not significant in stem cell-transplanted group. Our result indicated that the WES-based detection of FANC heterozygous germline mutations may have a great meaning in predicting IST response of acquired AA. This study was registered at chictr.org.cn (# ChiCTR2100054992).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hangchao Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huijin Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuechao Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuzhu Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shan Liu
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Clinical Evaluation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qinghong Yu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haifeng Zhuang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liqiang Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiping Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiyin Zheng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianping Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shenyun Lin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhong Zhou
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Baodong Ye
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Dijiong Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, #54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
- National TCM Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Liu Q, Dong H, Li Y, Shen Y, Hong Y, Chen Y, Liu S, Wu X, Liu W, Hu H, Zhao Y, Lin S, Shen Y, Zhou Y, Ye B, Wu D. Apolipoprotein-A is a potential prognostic biomarker for severe aplastic anemia patients treated with ATG-based immunosuppressive therapy: a single-center retrospective study. Lipids Health Dis 2022; 21:93. [PMID: 36192750 PMCID: PMC9531379 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-022-01703-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anti-thymoglobulin (ATG)-based immunosuppressive treatment (IST) is the standard first-line management for patients with severe AA/very severe AA (SAA/VSAA) and is not suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The response predictor was not fully investigated. Objective The present study attempted to explore other characteristics, such as serum lipid changes, during ATG-based IST and analyzed their significance in predicting IST response and survival. Methods A total of 61 newly diagnosed SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2019. The blood lipid levels, immunoglobulins, and peripheral T lymphocytes were retrospectively collected, and their correlations with IST response, estimated 8.5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed. Results The overall response (OR)/complete remission (CR) at 3, 6, and 9 months was 24.6%/6.6%, 52.5%/14.8%, and 65.6%/23.0%, respectively. Based on the 9-month response effect, patients were divided into IST-response (IST-R) and IST-nonresponse (IST-NR) groups. The subgroup baseline characteristics showed that the disease severity grade, absolute neutrophil granulocyte count (ANC), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoprotein-A (Apo-A) differed between the IST-R and IST-NR groups. Patients with lower Apo-A (< 1.205 g/L) level pretreatment had a better event-free survival (EFS), and a moderate negative correlation was established between the pretreatment Apo-A and 9-month response (P = 0.004). In addition, the T-cell subset and immunoglobulin analyses showed that the responsive patients had a low serum IgA level, which decreased further after therapy. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was established between the 3-month IgA and 9-month response (P = 0.006). Conclusion Serum Apo-A is a prognostic biomarker for newly diagnosed < 60-year-old SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST (registered at chictr.org.cn as # ChiCTR2100052979). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-022-01703-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huijie Dong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Haining Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Haining, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuzhu Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingying Shen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilei Hong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Clinical Evaluation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolian Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huijin Hu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuechao Zhao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shenyun Lin
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiping Shen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Zhou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Baodong Ye
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. .,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dijiong Wu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. .,Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005), Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Zaimoku Y, Patel BA, Shalhoub R, Groarke EM, Feng X, Wu CO, Young NS. Predicting response of severe aplastic anemia to immunosuppression combined with eltrombopag. Haematologica 2021; 107:126-133. [PMID: 33910334 PMCID: PMC8719075 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2021.278413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pretreatment blood counts, particularly an absolute reticulocyte count ≥25×109/L, correlate with response to immunosuppressive therapy in severe aplastic anemia. In recent trials, eltrombopag combined with standard immunosuppressive therapy yielded superior responses than those to immunosuppressive therapy alone. Our single institution retrospective study aimed to elucidate whether historical predictors of response to immunosuppressive therapy alone were also associated with response to immunosuppressive therapy plus eltrombopag. We sought correlations of blood counts, thrombopoietin levels and the presence of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clones with both overall and complete responses in 416 patients with severe aplastic anemia, aged 2-82 years (median, 30 years), initially treated with immunosuppressive therapy plus eltrombopag between 2012 and 2019 (n=176) or with immunosuppressive therapy alone between 1999 and 2010 (n=240). Compared to non-responders, patients in the group of overall responders to immunosuppressive therapy plus eltrombopag had significantly higher pretreatment absolute reticulocyte counts, higher neutrophil counts and reduced thrombopoietin levels, as also observed for the group treated with immunosuppressive therapy alone. Addition of eltrombopag markedly improved the overall response in subjects with an absolute reticulocyte count between 10-30×109/L from 60% (54 of 90) to 91% (62 of 68). Absolute lymphocyte count correlated with complete response in the groups treated with immunosuppressive therapy with or without eltrombopag, especially in adolescents aged ≥10 years and adults, but the correlation was reversed in younger children. Platelet count and the presence of a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clone did not correlate with responses to immunosuppressive therapy. Blood counts remain the best predictors of response to nontransplant therapies in severe aplastic anemia. Addition of eltrombopag to immunosuppressive therapy shifted patients with a lower absolute reticulocyte count into a better prognostic category.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Zaimoku
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
| | - Bhavisha A Patel
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Ruba Shalhoub
- Office of Biostatistics Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Emma M Groarke
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Xingmin Feng
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Colin O Wu
- Office of Biostatistics Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Neal S Young
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
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7
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Scheinberg P. Acquired severe aplastic anaemia: how medical therapy evolved in the 20th and 21st centuries. Br J Haematol 2021; 194:954-969. [PMID: 33855695 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The progress in aplastic anaemia (AA) management is one of success. Once an obscure entity resulting in death in most affected can now be successfully treated with either haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or immunosuppressive therapy (IST). The mechanisms that underly the diminution of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are now better elucidated, and include genetics and immunological alterations. Advances in supportive care with better antimicrobials, safer blood products and iron chelation have greatly impacted AA outcomes. Working somewhat 'mysteriously', anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) forms the base for both HSCT and IST protocols. Efforts to augment immunosuppression potency have not, unfortunately, led to better outcomes. Stimulating HSCs, an often-sought approach, has not been effective historically. The thrombopoietin receptor agonists (Tpo-RA) have been effective in stimulating early HSCs in AA despite the high endogenous Tpo levels. Dosing, timing and best combinations with Tpo-RAs are being defined to improve HSCs expansion in AA with minimal added toxicity. The more comprehensive access and advances in HSCT and IST protocols are likely to benefit AA patients worldwide. The focus of this review will be on the medical treatment advances in AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Scheinberg
- Division of Haematology, Hospital A Beneficência Portuguesa, São Paulo, Brazil
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8
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Similar outcomes of alemtuzumab-based hematopoietic cell transplantation for SAA patients older or younger than 50 years. Blood Adv 2020; 3:3070-3079. [PMID: 31648330 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) among older patients remains poor and associated with increased risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this retrospective study of 65 consecutive patients with acquired SAA who were transplanted using fludarabine, low-dose cyclophosphamide, and alemtuzumab (FCC), outcomes of 27 patients aged at least 50 years were compared with those of 38 patients younger than 50 years. The median age of the older cohort was 61 years (range, 51-71 years); 21 (78%) patients were transplanted from unrelated donors (3 of 21 from HLA 9/10 mismatch donors) and 6 from matched sibling donors. One-year GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) was comparable to that of patients younger than 50 years (84% vs 94%, respectively; P = .23). Both groups showed low rates of acute (5% vs 4%) and chronic (18% vs 14%) GVHD, with no cases of severe GVHD among matched donor transplants, and similar 1-year transplant-related mortality (14% vs 5.4%, older vs younger; P = .23). HSCT comorbidity index (HTC-CI) scores were similar between the groups, but overall survival with an HCT-CI of at least 3 was lower compared with a score less than 3 (76% vs 98%; P = .005). Median donor T-cell chimerism among older patients was 64% and 60% at 1 and 3 years, respectively, and was similar to that of younger patients. Increased B regulatory cells potentially contributed to low alloreactivity and mutual donor-recipient tolerance in older patients. Effect of comorbidities rather than age alone may be a more important determinant of suitability for FCC HSCT in older patients.
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Dutta B, Dolai TK, Mandal PK, Baul S, De R, Senthil K, Chakrabarti P. Response to Immunosuppressive Therapy in Acquired Aplastic Anaemia: Experience of a Tertiary Care Centre from Eastern India. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2019; 37:197-203. [PMID: 33867724 DOI: 10.1007/s12288-019-01158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study was conducted to assess response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in acquired aplastic anaemia (AA). It was a retrospective and prospective observational study. Patients were diagnosed as per standard international guidelines and IST was started as per standard protocol. Patients were followed up at 3 months and 6 months for assessment of response as per published standard guidelines. Total 76 cases were included in the study. The median age of the study population was 36 years with a range of 6-66 years with a male to female ratio of 2.04:1. Most common clinical presentation was pallor followed by bleeding. Commonest type of disease in the study group was severe AA. Among total 76 patients, 32 patients received Atgam and 44 patients received Thymogam. Within 3 months of ATG administration, 4 patients died and 1 patient was lost to follow up. At 3 months, 2 (2.63%) patients were on complete response (CR), 32 (42.10%) patients were in partial response (PR) and 37 (48.68%) patients were on no response (NR). Overall response (OR) at 3 months was 44.73%. At 6 months 5 (6.57%) patients were in CR, 43 (56.57%) patients in PR and 23 (30.26%) patients in NR; the OR was 63.14%. Overall response at 3 months was 44.73% and overall response at 6 months was 63.14%. The study revealed better overall survival for patients with ATGAM treatment than THYMOGAM treatment arm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijita Dutta
- Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 700014 India
| | | | - Prakas Kumar Mandal
- Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 700014 India.,Kolkata, India
| | - ShuvraNeel Baul
- Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 700014 India
| | - Rajib De
- Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 700014 India
| | - Karthika Senthil
- Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 700014 India
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10
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Narita A, Zhu X, Muramatsu H, Chen X, Guo Y, Yang W, Zhang J, Liu F, Jang JH, Kook H, Kim H, Usuki K, Yamazaki H, Takahashi Y, Nakao S, Wook Lee J, Kojima S. Prospective randomized trial comparing two doses of rabbit anti‐thymocyte globulin in patients with severe aplastic anaemia. Br J Haematol 2019; 187:227-237. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Narita
- Department of Paediatrics Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Nagoya Japan
| | - Xiaofan Zhu
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Hideki Muramatsu
- Department of Paediatrics Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Nagoya Japan
| | - Xiaojuan Chen
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Ye Guo
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenyu Yang
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingliao Zhang
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Paediatrics Institute of Haematology and Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun H. Jang
- Department of Haematology Oncology Samsung Medical Centre, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Kook
- Department of Paediatrics Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School Hwasun Republic of Korea
| | - Hawk Kim
- Division of Haematology Gachon University Gil Medical Centre, Gachon University College of Medicine Incheon Republic of Korea
| | - Kensuke Usuki
- Department of Haematology NTT Medical Centre Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Hirohito Yamazaki
- Division of Transfusion Medicine Kanazawa University Hospital Kanazawa Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takahashi
- Department of Paediatrics Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Nagoya Japan
| | - Shinji Nakao
- Department of Haematology and Respirology Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences Kanazawa Japan
| | - Jong Wook Lee
- Department of Haematology Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - Seiji Kojima
- Department of Paediatrics Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Nagoya Japan
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11
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Vaht K, Göransson M, Carlson K, Isaksson C, Lenhoff S, Sandstedt A, Uggla B, Winiarski J, Ljungman P, Andersson PO, Brune M. High Graft-versus-Host Disease-Free, Relapse/Rejection-Free Survival and Similar Outcome of Related and Unrelated Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Aplastic Anemia: A Nationwide Swedish Cohort Study. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019; 25:1970-1974. [PMID: 31173901 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) as primary treatment for aplastic anemia (AA) is being increasingly used. Yet, age, stem cell source, and donor type are important outcome factors. We have recently performed a nationwide cohort study of all patients with AA in Sweden diagnosed from 2000 to 2011 and now present outcome data on SCT patients. In total, 68 patients underwent SCT, and 63% of them had failed immunosuppressive therapy. We found that, with a median follow-up of 109 months (range, 35 to 192 months), 5-year overall survival (OS) for all patients was 86.8%, whereas graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse/rejection-free survival (GRFS) at 5 years was 69.1%. There was no survival impact regarding the donor type or stem cell source. Patients aged ≥40 years had a higher transplant-related mortality (29.4% versus 7.8%; P = .023), which translated into a lower 5-year OS: 70.6% versus 92.2% (P = .022) and a trend of lower GRFS (52.9% versus 74.5%; P = .069). In conclusion, we found in this real-world setting that both OS and GRFS were high, but SCT for patients with AA aged ≥40 years is problematic, and clinical trials addressing this issue are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Vaht
- Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Magnus Göransson
- Department of Pediatrics, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kristina Carlson
- Department of Hematology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Isaksson
- Department of Hematology, Cancer Centre, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stig Lenhoff
- Department of Hematology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Sandstedt
- Department of Hematology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Bertil Uggla
- Section of Hematology Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Jacek Winiarski
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge and CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Ljungman
- Centre of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per-Ola Andersson
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Södra Älvsborg Hospital Borås, Borås, Sweden
| | - Mats Brune
- Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
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12
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Alashkar F, Oelmüller M, Herich-Terhürne D, Turki AT, Schmitz C, Vance C, Dührsen U, Röth A. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in adult patients with acquired aplastic anemia (AA): A single-center experience over the past 15 years. Eur J Haematol 2019; 103:18-25. [PMID: 30977158 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with horse anti-thymocyte globulin (hATG) and cyclosporine (CsA) is considered one of the first-line therapies in patients (pts) with acquired aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS In our single-center, retrospective analysis response rates (RRs) to ATG/CsA at a minimum of 6 mo were evaluated in 67 treatment-naïve (TN) AA pts (52.2% (35/67) females; median age 45 y (range 18-89 y)) being treated at the West German Cancer Center at the Department of Hematology at the University Hospital of Essen between April 2000 and December 2015. RESULTS Overall 6 mo RRs in TN pts following ATG/CsA were 67.2% (45/67) (5-year OS: 79.5%). In TN hATG-treated pts 6 mo RRs were 75.5% (37/49) (5-year OS: 81%) compared to 44.4% (8/18) (5-year OS 73.5%) following rabbit ATG (rATG). Response to ATG/CsA was dependent of age, absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), and disease severity. Six mo RRs to salvage ATG/CsA in relapsed/refractory (R/R) pts were 37.5% (6/16). CONCLUSION Our data independently confirm the findings of previous studies that hATG/CsA is superior to rATG/CsA in TN pts. The lack of hATG availability should not result in abstaining it from an indicated ATG therapy, even though ATGAM® is not registered in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferras Alashkar
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maren Oelmüller
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dörte Herich-Terhürne
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Amin T Turki
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christine Schmitz
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Colin Vance
- Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dührsen
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander Röth
- Department of Hematology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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13
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Sasaki N, Shimura K, Yoshida M, Uoshima N, Kiyota M, Hatsuse M, Uchiyama H, Chinen Y, Kobayashi T, Nakao M, Takahashi R, Nakano-Akamatsu S, Kaneko H, Kobayashi Y, Shimazaki C, Taniwaki M, Kuroda J. Immunosuppressive therapy with rabbit antithymocyte globulin therapy for acquired aplastic anemia: a multi-institutional retrospective study in Japanese adult patients. Int J Hematol 2019; 109:278-285. [PMID: 30627868 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-018-02583-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We retrospectively analyzed efficacy and safety of therapy with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA) in 30 Japanese adult patients with acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in the Kyoto Clinical Hematology Study Group. The median observation period was 31 months and the median age of the patients was 54 years. The objective response rates (ORRs) to rATG plus CsA increased over time until 18 months after the start of treatment; the rate of achievement of better than partial response at 18 months was 66.7%. The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 79% in all patients. In eight patients aged ≥ 75 years old, the ORR was 62.5% and the 2-year OS rate of 50% was not significantly inferior to that in patients aged ≤ 74 years old. The overall mortality rate was 16.7% in our cohort, while the mortality rate in patients aged ≥ 75 years old was 37.5%, which was higher than that in patients aged ≤ 74 years old (9.1%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Collectively, rATG combined with CsA is an effective and feasible treatment for AA, while patients should be appropriately selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Sasaki
- Department of Hematology, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuho Shimura
- Department of Hematology, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mihoko Yoshida
- Department of Hematology, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Uoshima
- Department of Hematology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Moriguchi, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miki Kiyota
- Department of Hematology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Moriguchi, Japan
| | - Mayumi Hatsuse
- Department of Hematology, JCHO Kyoto Kuramaguchi Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hitoji Uchiyama
- Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Chinen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Kobayashi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | | | - Ryoichi Takahashi
- Department of Hematology, Omihachiman Community Medical Center, Omihachiman, Japan
| | | | - Hiroto Kaneko
- Department of Hematology, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kobayashi
- Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chihiro Shimazaki
- Department of Hematology, JCHO Kyoto Kuramaguchi Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masafumi Taniwaki
- Department of Hematology, Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Junya Kuroda
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
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14
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Mishra K, Jandial A, Lad D, Prakash G, Khadwal A, Varma N, Malhotra P. Cost and complications are limitations in resource-constrained settings for equine anti-thymocyte globulin. Eur J Haematol 2018; 101:421. [PMID: 29920794 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kundan Mishra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Aditya Jandial
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Deepesh Lad
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Gaurav Prakash
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Alka Khadwal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Neelam Varma
- Department of Hematology, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pankaj Malhotra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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