Krista Vaht1,2, Magnus Göransson3, Kristina Carlson4, Cecilia Isaksson5, Stig Lenhoff6, Anna Sandstedt7, Bertil Uggla8, Jacek Winiarski9, Per Ljungman10, Mats Brune1,2, Per-Ola Andersson2,11. 1. Section of Haematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2. Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. 3. Department of Pediatrics, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 4. Department of Haematology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. 5. Department of Haematology, Cancer Centre, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. 6. Department of Haematology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. 7. Department of Haematology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. 8. Section of Haematology Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. 9. Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital and CLINTEC, Stockholm, Sweden. 10. Centre of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit (CAST), Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 11. Department of Medicine, Södra Älvsborg Hospital Borås, Borås, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG)-based immunosuppression remains a cornerstone in aplastic anaemia (AA) treatment. However, most ATG studies are not population-based and knowledge about real-world results concerning response and outcome could offer important information for treating physicians. METHODS: We have recently performed a nationwide retrospective cohort study on all AA patients diagnosed in Sweden in 2000-2011 and now present treatment and outcome data on patients receiving first-line ATG. In total, 158 patients showed a 47.0% response rate which was similar in all age groups (range 41.5%-51.7%) with no difference regarding ATG formulation. The response was significantly associated with severity grade-especially at time of treatment initiation: very severe (VSAA) 22.7%; severe (SAA) 54.5% (P < .001); and non-severe 88.5% (P < .001). A logistic regression-based predictive model indicated that VSAA patients with an absolute reticulocyte count <25 × 109 /L had only a 19% probability of response. In a multivariable analysis, age and VSAA at the time of treatment were the independent factors for inferior survival. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world VSAA patients respond poorly to ATG which indicates the need for a different treatment approach. Our findings suggest that age alone should not be a discriminating factor for administering ATG treatment.
OBJECTIVES: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG)-based immunosuppression remains a cornerstone in aplastic anaemia (AA) treatment. However, most ATG studies are not population-based and knowledge about real-world results concerning response and outcome could offer important information for treating physicians. METHODS: We have recently performed a nationwide retrospective cohort study on all AA patients diagnosed in Sweden in 2000-2011 and now present treatment and outcome data on patients receiving first-line ATG. In total, 158 patients showed a 47.0% response rate which was similar in all age groups (range 41.5%-51.7%) with no difference regarding ATG formulation. The response was significantly associated with severity grade-especially at time of treatment initiation: very severe (VSAA) 22.7%; severe (SAA) 54.5% (P < .001); and non-severe 88.5% (P < .001). A logistic regression-based predictive model indicated that VSAA patients with an absolute reticulocyte count <25 × 109 /L had only a 19% probability of response. In a multivariable analysis, age and VSAA at the time of treatment were the independent factors for inferior survival. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world VSAA patients respond poorly to ATG which indicates the need for a different treatment approach. Our findings suggest that age alone should not be a discriminating factor for administering ATG treatment.
Authors: Vipul Sharad Sheth; Victoria Potter; Shreyans A Gandhi; Austin Gladston Kulasekararaj; Hugues de Lavallade; Petra Muus; Antonio Pagliuca; Carmel F M Rice; Varun Mehra; Francesco Grimaldi; Shafqat Inam; Linda D Barber; Ghulam J Mufti; Judith C Marsh Journal: Blood Adv Date: 2019-10-22
Authors: Yoshitaka Zaimoku; Bhavisha A Patel; Ruba Shalhoub; Emma M Groarke; Xingmin Feng; Colin O Wu; Neal S Young Journal: Haematologica Date: 2022-01-01 Impact factor: 9.941