Open AccessAnti-thymocyte globulin in haematology: Recent developments
Author(s) -
Salahuddin Siddiqui,
Jessica Cox,
Roger H. Herzig,
Senthilnathan Palaniyandi,
Gerhard C. Hildebrandt,
Reinhold Munker
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indian journal of medical research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 87
ISSN - 0971-5916
DOI - 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_752_19
Subject(s) - anti thymocyte globulin , immunosuppression , medicine , hematology , graft versus host disease , immunology , transplantation , globulin , thymocyte , immune system , t cell
Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is a polyclonal antiserum introduced into clinical medicine more than 30 years ago. It induces a broad non-specific immunosuppression. In haematology, standard indications are severe aplastic anaemia and prophylaxis and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (after allogeneic transplantation). For aplastic anaemia, ATG from horses has been found to be superior to ATG from rabbits. In the situation of allogeneic transplantation, ATG lessens the risk of chronic GVHD but may not improve survival. There is current controversy regarding which patients benefit most from ATG and what the ideal dosage is. It is likely that in the coming years a more specific immunosuppressive will be developed that will minimize GVHD while maintaining the graft-versus-malignancy effect.