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Abnormal cytogenetic clones in patients with aplastic anaemia: response to immunosuppressive therapy
Author(s) -
Geary C. G.,
Harrison C. J.,
Philpott N. J.,
Hows J. M.,
GordonSmith E. C.,
Marsh J. C. W.
Publication year - 1999
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.1365-2141.1999.01187.x
Subject(s) - clone (java method) , medicine , immunosuppression , aplastic anemia , immunology , bone marrow , transplantation , gastroenterology , biology , genetics , dna
We report the response to immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin or oxymetholone in 13 cases of aplastic anaemia (AA) with an abnormal cytogenetic clone detected at or sometime after diagnosis. Blood and bone marrow examination showed no distinctive morphological features of myelodysplasia (MDS) at diagnosis. Haematological response occurred promptly in eight cases; the remainder responded after additional immunosuppression with or without oxymetholone. Three patients had a late relapse of AA, treated successfully by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in one; the others responded to oxymetholone. Transformation to MDS or acute leukaemia was not observed after a median follow‐up of 4.1 years (range 1.2–11.2). In four patients the cytogenetic clone disappeared after treatment.