Abstract | BACKGROUND AND METHODS: RESULTS: At three months significantly more patients in the cyclosporine group had a complete or partial remission in response to treatment than did patients in the control group (65 percent vs. 39 percent, P less than 0.03); this difference was confirmed at six months (70 percent vs. 46 percent, P less than 0.05). The superior results of the regimen including cyclosporine were most evident in the patients with severe or very severe aplastic anemia, whose response rate at six months was 65 percent, as compared with 31 percent of such patients in the control group (P less than 0.02). Granulocyte and hemoglobin levels became normal in most patients who responded, but platelet counts continued to be subnormal in 61 percent of the patients. Ten of 52 patients with responses (3 in the cyclosporine group and 7 in the control group) relapsed 4 to 37 months after treatment. The actuarial survival of all patients at 41 months is 64 percent in the cyclosporine group and 58 percent in the control group (P = 0.16); among the patients with severe or very severe disease, survival is 80 percent and 44 percent, respectively (P = 0.077). Cyclosporine had substantial but reversible side effects. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | N Frickhofen, J P Kaltwasser, H Schrezenmeier, A Raghavachar, H G Vogt, F Herrmann, M Freund, P Meusers, A Salama, H Heimpel |
Journal | The New England journal of medicine
(N Engl J Med)
Vol. 324
Issue 19
Pg. 1297-304
(May 09 1991)
ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States |
PMID | 2017225
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Antilymphocyte Serum
- Cyclosporins
- Hemoglobins
- Methylprednisolone
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Topics |
- Adult
- Anemia, Aplastic
(blood, mortality, therapy)
- Antilymphocyte Serum
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Blood Cell Count
- Cyclosporins
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Hemoglobins
(analysis)
- Humans
- Male
- Methylprednisolone
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Middle Aged
- Recurrence
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