High-dose cyclophosphamide for severe aplastic anemia: long-term follow-up

Blood. 2010 Mar 18;115(11):2136-41. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-06-225375. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

Abstract

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder that can be treated with bone marrow transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy, and high-dose cyclophosphamide. Here, we report long-term follow-up on 67 SAA patients (44 treatment-naive and 23 refractory) treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide. At 10 years, the overall actuarial survival was 88%, the response rate was 71% with the majority being complete, and the actuarial event-free survival was 58% in 44 treatment-naive SAA patients. Patients with refractory SAA fared less well after high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy; at 10 years, overall actuarial survival, response, and actuarial event-free survival rates were 62%, 48%, and 27%, respectively. High-dose cyclophosphamide is highly effective therapy for severe aplastic anemia. Large randomized controlled trials will be necessary to establish how results of high-dose cyclophosphamide compare with either bone marrow transplantation or standard immunosuppressive regimens, such as antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Aplastic / drug therapy*
  • Anemia, Aplastic / physiopathology
  • Cause of Death
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage*
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance / drug effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hematopoiesis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cyclophosphamide