Deciphering treatment patterns in non-severe/moderate aplastic anemia: an international observational study

Leukemia. 2023 Dec;37(12):2479-2485. doi: 10.1038/s41375-023-02047-z. Epub 2023 Oct 4.

Abstract

Non-severe aplastic anemia is a rare bone marrow failure disorder characterized by variable degrees and combination of cytopenias, with limited data on management and outcome. We describe a large multicentric series of 259 patients, focusing on clinical and molecular features, treatment, evolution, and survival. The majority required treatment with cyclosporine (CyA) alone (N = 84) or in combination with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG,44) or eltrombopag (20), eltrombopag alone (10), or others (25) including androgens. Similar outcomes were observed across different strategies, with a 6-month overall response rate of 73% for CyA, 74% for ATG plus CyA, 68% for CyA plus eltrombopag, 87% for eltrombopag, and 79% for others. Notably, 56 patients (39%), mainly receiving CyA plus eltrombopag, achieved a trilineage response (p = 0.02). Progression to myeloid neoplasms was limited (8%) and not related to mutational status. Hemolytic PNH developed in 10% of cases, being predicted by detection of small clones at diagnosis. Survival was negatively impacted by age, male gender, LDH, platelets/erythrocyte transfusion need, and somatic mutations by NGS, and positively by higher neutrophils at diagnosis, PNH clones, and trilineage response at 6 and 12 months. Multivariable analysis confirmed the detrimental role of age and the favorable association with PNH clone and trilineage response at 6 months.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Aplastic* / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Aplastic* / drug therapy
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use
  • Benzoates / therapeutic use
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • eltrombopag
  • Cyclosporine
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Benzoates
  • Immunosuppressive Agents