Cyclosporine A in a case of refractory severe aplastic anaemia

A boy, born in 1975, developed severe aplastic anaemia in 1982. Treatment with oxymetholone plus corticosteroids and later bolus methylprednisolone was ineffective. Following a 5-d course with antithymocyte globulin, a partial remission was achieved, but thrombocytopenia necessitating platelet transfusions every 10-14 d persisted. Under treatment with cyclosporine A the thrombocytopenia improved markedly, and there is no need for further transfusions. These observations combined with those reported in another case of aplastic anaemia by Stryckmans et al (1) indicate that cyclosporine A may be of value in some cases of aplastic anaemia.