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Antithymocyte globulin for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome
Author(s) -
Molldrem Jeffrey J.,
Caples Mary,
Mavroudis Dimitrios,
Plante Michelle,
Young Neal S.,
Barrett A. John
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.4423249.x
Subject(s) - medicine , refractory (planetary science) , gastroenterology , myelodysplastic syndromes , pneumonia , anemia , serum sickness , surgery , immunology , bone marrow , antibody , physics , astrobiology
Twenty‐five transfusion‐dependent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients (with < 20% blasts) were treated in a phase II study with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) at 40 mg/kg/d for four doses and then followed with blood counts every 2 weeks and clinic visits every 3 months, for a median of 14 months (range 1–38 months). 11 (44%) patients responded and became transfusion‐independent after ATG, including three complete responses, six partial responses, and two minimal responses. Responses were observed in 9/14 patients (64%) with refractory anaemia (RA) and 2/6 patients (33%) with refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB). Median response duration was 10 months (range 3–38 months). The Kaplan‐Meier estimate of overall survival was 84% at 38 months, with one early death due to pneumonia and two deaths from disease progression to leukaemia. Side‐effects consisted mainly of mild serum sickness in all patients. A single course of ATG restored haemopoiesis in some patients with MDS and was well tolerated.