[Successful treatment of idiopathic pure red cell aplasia with antithymocyte globulin].

Abstract

An 18-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of severe anemia on October 16, 1999. Laboratory data included hemoglobin 3.5 g/dl, reticulocytes 2,200/microliter, WBC 3,500/microliter, and Plt 38.5 x 10(4)/microliter. Bone marrow aspiration showed a normocellular marrow with severe erythroid hypoplasia, suggesting a diagnosis of pure red cell aplasia. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy was started on October 20, but there was no response. Administration of cyclosporine A (CyA; 400-450 mg) was begun on November 1, but again there was no response. Antithymocyte globulin (ATG; 800 mg/day for 5 days, 15 mg/kg) was started from December 1 in addition to prednisolone (60 mg/day) and CyA (450 mg/day). On day 7 of ATG therapy, the reticulocyte count began to increase, and reached a peak of 32.6 x 10(4)/microliter on day 20. The patient's hemoglobin level started to increase on day 13, and reached 8.5 g/dl on day 27. A complete response has been maintained up to the time of writing, and the hemoglobin level was 11.9 g/dl on December 14, 2000. This is the first detailed Japanese case report of successful treatment of pure red cell aplasia using ATG.

• Authors: M Soda, K Usuki, Y Adachi, H Kazama, S Iki, A Urabe
• Journal: [Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology (Rinsho Ketsueki) Vol. 42 Issue 11 Pg. 1122-7 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0485-1439 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 11808082 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antilymphocyte Serum
• Immunosuppressive Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antilymphocyte Serum (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure (therapy)