[Acquired severe aplastic anemia in emerging countries: Management from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation...

Management of acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in emerging countries depends on the means of prognostic stratification, treatment and logistics available. During the 13th annual harmonization workshop of the francophone Society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a designated working group reviewed the literature in order to elaborate unified guidelines for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (Allo-HCT) in this disease. In terms of practice, the conclusions are as follows; The use of anti-tymocyte globuline (ATG) is mainly from rabbit and very little from horse. Access to bone marrow graft, total body irradiation, and the international unrelated donor registries is limited, which justifies the use of peripheral blood stem cells, chemotherapy-based conditioning, and related alternative donor. The workshop recommends matched sibling allo-HCT in all patients aged less than 40 years with acquired severe or very severe AA. For patients aged over than 40 years, or who lack an HLA-identical donor, treatment with the combination of cyclosporin, horse ATG, eltrombopag or cyclosporine, eltrombopag is recommended. If horse ATG and eltrombopag are not available, matched sibling allo-HCT may be indicated as first-line therapy in patients aged between 40-60 years, and good performance status. Although, in patients who have failed immunosuppressive treatments and thrombopoietin agonists, and in the absence of HLA-matched donor, a haplo-identical allo-HCT with modified Baltimore conditioning is recommended.