Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
08:38

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS

Published on: November 8, 2015

Complete response to tacrolimus in a child with severe aplastic anemia resistant to cyclosporin A

Christine Macartney1, Marshall Freilich, Isaac Odame

  • 1Marrow Failure and Myelodysplasia Program, Division of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, and The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|December 6, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Tacrolimus offers a potential treatment for pediatric aplastic anemia (AA). In a severe AA case, switching from cyclosporin A to tacrolimus resolved gingival hyperplasia and induced complete AA remission.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Immunosuppressive Therapy
  • Gingival Health

Background:

  • Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare pediatric condition.
  • Standard treatment involves immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin A.
  • Alternative therapies with comparable efficacy are limited.

Observation:

  • A child with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) experienced severe gingival hyperplasia due to cyclosporin A.
  • This hyperplasia was unresponsive to dental interventions.
  • Switching IST to tacrolimus led to significant improvement in gingival hyperplasia.

Findings:

  • The pediatric patient achieved a complete response of severe aplastic anemia within months of initiating tacrolimus.
  • Tacrolimus effectively managed the cyclosporin A-induced gingival hyperplasia.

Implications:

  • Tacrolimus may represent a viable alternative IST for pediatric severe aplastic anemia.
  • This approach could mitigate side effects associated with traditional therapies.
  • Further research into tacrolimus for pediatric AA is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease...