Bulletin of Gulhane Military Medical Academy, cilt.35, sa.4, ss.893-897, 1993 (Scopus)
Twenty-one patients with aplastic anemia (AA) were evaluated for the outcome of immunosuppressive therapy. Six severe (ANC < 500/mm3) and 5 less severe (ANC > 500/mm3) AA patients received cyclosporin A (CsA) and methylprednisone (MP) with CsA serum levels monitorization. Ten less severe AA patients were given antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and MP. The mean follow-up period was 11.8 (2-36) months for patients who received CsA + MP and 3 (2-4) months for ALG + MP. The response rates in patients who received CsA was 45% (3 complete remission (CR), two partial remission (PR)). In ALG + MP group there was 4 PR (40%). Five CsA + MP patients (+6, +22, +24, +24, +36 months) and 4 ALG + MP patients (+2, +3, +4, +4 months) are still in remission. CsA exerted substantial but reversible side effects. In one patient who received ALG + MP hypertension and nephrotoxicity that necessitated drug withdrawal was observed. Although the results seem to be early, combination of CsA + MP is better than ALG + MP in this non-randomized study.