Intensive immunosuppression therapy for aplastic anemia associated with dyskeratosis congenita: report of a case

Int J Hematol. 2005 Jul;82(1):35-7. doi: 10.1532/IJH97.A10416.

Abstract

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a very rare inherited disorder characterized by skin pigmentation, nail dystrophy, and mucosal leukoplakia. It is also associated with a variety of noncutaneous abnormalities, such as fatal pulmonary complications, malignancy, and bone marrow failure. We report the case of a 32-year-old man with DC associated with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). The traditional treatment of DC-associated SAA is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, in this case, an HLA-matched donor was not available. Therefore our patient was given intensive immunosuppressive therapy with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and cyclosporine A (CsA). The hemogram findings improved after the treatment, but the patient died of pulmonary complications after being in stable condition for 6 months. The results support the possible use of intensive immunosuppression with ALG and CsA for DC-associated SAA as an alternative treatment for patients who are not eligible for HSCT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Aplastic / etiology
  • Anemia, Aplastic / immunology
  • Anemia, Aplastic / therapy*
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use*
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / complications
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / immunology
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Immunosuppressive Agents