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[Severe quantitative bone marrow insufficiency: results of treatment with high-dose antilymphocyte serum]
Nineteen patients with severe aplastic anaemia were treated with 21 courses of horse antithymocyte globulins (ATG). Changes in haematological parameters were correlated with ATG dosage. One of the 11 patients who received less than 100 mg/kg is still alive after more than 12 months. One of the 10 patients who received more than 100 mg/kg died of infection; in the remaining 9 patients, treatment resulted in increase or even return to normal of haemoglobin, polymorphonuclear and platelet levels. None of these 9 patients relapsed during a median follow-up of 16 months (range: 7 to 35 months). Immediate drug tolerance and serum sickness were unrelated to ATG dosage. These results confirm the therapeutic effectiveness of antithymocytic globulins in severe aplastic anaemia; they also suggest that 150 mg/kg doses are required to obtain satisfactory and long-lasting results.
Nineteen patients with severe aplastic anaemia were treated with 21 courses of horse antithymocyte globulins (ATG). Changes in haematological parameters were correlated with ATG dosage. One of the 11 patients who received less than 100 mg/kg is still alive after more than 12 months. One of the 10 patients who received more than 100 mg/kg died of infection; in the remaining 9 patients, treatment resulted in increase or even return to normal of haemoglobin, polymorphonuclear and platelet levels. None of these 9 patients relapsed during a median follow-up of 16 months (range: 7 to 35 months). Immediate drug tolerance and serum sickness were unrelated to ATG dosage. These results confirm the therapeutic effectiveness of antithymocytic globulins in severe aplastic anaemia; they also suggest that 150 mg/kg doses are required to obtain satisfactory and long-lasting results.