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Shimano KA, Sasa G, Broglie L, Gloude NJ, Myers K, Nakano TA, Sharathkumar A, Rothman JA, Pereda MA, Overholt K, Narla A, McGuinn C, Lau BW, Geddis AE, Dror Y, de Jong JLO, Castillo P, Allen SW, Boklan J. Treatment of relapsed/refractory severe aplastic anemia in children: Evidence-based recommendations. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024:e31075. [PMID: 38764170 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.31075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare potentially fatal hematologic disorder. Although overall outcomes with treatment are excellent, there are variations in management approach, including differences in treatment between adult and pediatric patients. Certain aspects of treatment are under active investigation in clinical trials. Because of the rarity of the disease, some pediatric hematologists may have relatively limited experience with the complex management of SAA. The following recommendations reflect an up-to-date evidence-based approach to the treatment of children with relapsed or refractory SAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A Shimano
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ghadir Sasa
- Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Network, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Larisa Broglie
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nicholas J Gloude
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kasiani Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Taizo A Nakano
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Anjali Sharathkumar
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Jennifer A Rothman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maria A Pereda
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kathleen Overholt
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anupama Narla
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Catherine McGuinn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bonnie W Lau
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amy E Geddis
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yigal Dror
- Department of Pediatrics, Marrow Failure and Myelodysplasia Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jill L O de Jong
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul Castillo
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Steven W Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica Boklan
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Bulduk T. Aplastic anemia from past to the present: A bibliometric analysis with research trends and global productivity during 1980 to 2022. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34862. [PMID: 37682205 PMCID: PMC10489188 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
There is no bibliometric study in the literature on Aplastic Anemia (AA). In the present study, the purpose was to summarize the intellectual structure of the subject, uncover the global productivity in this respect, and identify the latest research trends by performing a bibliometric analysis of the articles published on AA. For this purpose, outputs for different research components of scientific outputs (i.e., countries, institutions, journals, and authors) were analyzed. A total of 3221 articles on Aplastic Anemia published between 1980 and 2022 were analyzed by using various statistical methods and bibliometric approaches. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used for correlation analysis and bibliometric network visualization maps were used to identify trending topics, citation analysis, and international collaborations. The top 3 contributing countries to the literature were the USA in this respect (800, 24.8%), China (514, 15.9%), and Japan (442, 13.7%). The top 3 most active institutions were the National Institutes of Health USA (n = 177), National Heart Lung Blood Institute (n = 153), and Udice French Research Universities (n = 136). The top 3 most productive journals were the British Journal of Haematology (n = 239), Blood (n = 181), and Bone Marrow Transplantation (n = 137). The most prolific author was Neal Stuart Young (n = 130). Specific keywords that were most frequently used in articles were severe aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive therapy, pediatrics/children, anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, myelodysplastic syndromes, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, pancytopenia, eltrombopag, fludarabine, Graft-Versus-Host Disease, survival, apoptosis, cytokines, and cyclophosphamide. It was determined that the trend topics in recent years were eltrombopag, COVID-19, Treg, Th17, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, haploidentical donor/transplantation, and posttransplantation cyclophosphamide. In the formation of the AA literature, it was determined that the research leadership belonged to the USA, China, Japan, European countries (United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland), India, and South Korea, which have large economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba Bulduk
- Gülhane Education and Training Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Hematology, Ankara, Turkey
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3
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Ding S, Fu R. New Trends of Nontransplant therapy for Acquired Aplastic Anemia. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:1730-1737. [PMID: 35440301 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220418132432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aplastic anemia (AA) is a hematological disease that is characterized by pancytopenia and hypofunctional bone marrow hematopoiesis. Patients with AA are treated with either immunosuppressive therapy (IST) using anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and Cyclosporine (CsA) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), if a matched donor is available. The standard IST regimen for AA patients which results in response rates up to 70%, and even higher overall survival. However, primary and secondary failures after IST remain frequent, and to date all attempts aiming to overcome this problem have been unfruitful. The nontransplant therapeutic options for AA have significantly expanded during the last few years. Here, we review the new trends of nontransplant therapy for AA and summarize the current therapeutic effect of AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxue Ding
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154, Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Rong Fu
- Department of Hematology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154, Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300052, China
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Zhang FK. [How I treat refractory sever aplastic anemia]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2021; 41:705-709. [PMID: 33113600 PMCID: PMC7595865 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F K Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
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5
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Pierri F, Dufour C. Management of aplastic anemia after failure of frontline immunosuppression. Expert Rev Hematol 2019; 12:809-819. [PMID: 31311355 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2019.1645003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: About 60% of aplastic anemia (AA) patients are in need of further treatment after frontline standard immunosuppressive therapy (IST). This along with the prolonged survival of AA subjects who do not respond to or relapse after this treatment makes management of these patients a rising and very challenging issue. Areas covered: Literature research, carried out from the most commonly used databases, included the following keywords: aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive treatment, antithymocyte globuline, ciclosporine A, refractory aplastic anemia, relapsing aplastic anemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation including haploidentical and cord blood transplantations thrombopoietin mimetics, supportive treatment, chelation and infections. Studies on the treatment of aplastic anemia with different levels of evidence were included. Top level of evidence studies (metanalyses and randomized prospective controlled trials) were a minority because severe AA, particularly in the subset of patients who fail upfront IST, is an extremely rare disease. Guidelines from National Societies and review articles were also included. Expert opinion: The most commonly used treatments after failure of upfront immunosuppression are hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a second course of immunosuppression and thrombopoietin mimetics alone or in combination with immunosuppression. Other potential options are alemtuzumab, androgens, oral cyclosporine A in monotherapy. Not many comparative studies exist to clearly establish the superiority of one over another strategy. Therefore, the choice of the best treatment for these patients should rely on major driving factors like patient's age and comorbidities, availability of a matched unrelated donor, donor's characteristics and drug-availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Pierri
- Hematology Unit, G. Gaslini Children's Research Hospital , Genova , Italy
| | - Carlo Dufour
- Hematology Unit, G. Gaslini Children's Research Hospital , Genova , Italy
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Braga Neto MB, Viscuse PV, Sundsted KK. 56-Year-Old Man With Abdominal Pain and Dyspnea. Mayo Clin Proc 2019; 94:704-708. [PMID: 30737058 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel B Braga Neto
- Resident in Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN
| | - Paul V Viscuse
- Resident in Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN
| | - Karna K Sundsted
- Advisor to residents and Consultant in General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Ecsedi M, Lengline É, Knol-Bout C, Bosman P, Eikema DJ, Afanasyev B, Maschan A, Dreger P, Halkes CJM, Drexler B, Cortelezzi A, Drénou B, Patriarca A, Bruno B, Onofrillo D, Lanino E, Pulanic D, Serventi-Seiwerth R, Garnier A, Ljungman P, Bonifazi F, Giammarco S, Tournilhac O, Pioltelli P, Rovó A, Risitano AM, de Latour RP, Dufour C, Passweg J. Use of eltrombopag in aplastic anemia in Europe. Ann Hematol 2019; 98:1341-1350. [PMID: 30915499 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-019-03652-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Eltrombopag (ELT), an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, has recently emerged as a promising new drug for the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA). How ELT is used outside of clinical trials in the real-world setting and results of this treatment are not known. We conducted therefore a retrospective survey on the use of ELT in AA among EBMT member centers. We analyzed the 134 patients reported in our survey together with 46 patients recently published by Lengline et al. The median follow-up from start of ELT treatment was 15.3 months, with 85.6% patients alive at last follow-up. Importantly, only 28.9% of our patients received ELT according to the FDA/EMA label as monotherapy in the relapsed/refractory setting, whereas 16.7% received ELT upfront. The overall response rate in our cohort was 62%, very similar to the results of the pivotal ELT trial. In multivariate analysis, combination therapy with ELT/cyclosporine/ATG and response to previous therapy were associated with response. Overall survival was favorable with a 1-year survival from ELT start of 87.4%. We identified age, AA severity before ELT start and response to ELT as variables significantly associated with OS. Two patients transformed to MDS; other adverse events were mostly benign. In sum, ELT is used widely in Europe to treat AA patients, mostly in the relapsed/refractory setting. Response to ELT is similar to the clinical trial data across different age groups, treatment lines, and treatment combinations and results in favorable survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matyas Ecsedi
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | - Boris Afanasyev
- First State Pavlov Medical University of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexei Maschan
- Dimitri Rogachev Federal Research Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Beatrice Drexler
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Agostino Cortelezzi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Patriarca
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Drazen Pulanic
- University Hospital Center and Medical School, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | - Per Ljungman
- Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Alicia Rovó
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Antonio M Risitano
- Hematology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Jakob Passweg
- Department of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Acquired aplastic anemia (aAA) characterized by peripheral pancytopenia and bone marrow aplasia is a rare and serious disorder. Differential diagnosis includes constitutional bone marrow failure syndromes and myelodysplastic disorders. Autoimmune reaction to altered hematopoietic stem cells highlights the underlying mechanism. Matched related donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the ideal pediatric treatment; alternative approaches include immunosuppressive therapy and use of eltrombopag. Progression to clonal disorders can occur. Recently, alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcomes have significantly improved. Despite advances, aAA continues to be a challenge for hematologists.
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Thota S, Patel BJ, Sadaps M, Balasubramanian S, Sanikommu S, Hirsch C, Marotta S, Sekeres MA, Risitano AM, Maciejewski JP. Therapeutic outcomes using subcutaneous low dose alemtuzumab for acquired bone marrow failure conditions. Br J Haematol 2017; 183:133-136. [PMID: 28905372 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Swapna Thota
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Bhumika J Patel
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Meena Sadaps
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Suresh Balasubramanian
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Srinivasa Sanikommu
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Cassandra Hirsch
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Serena Marotta
- Haematology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Mikkael A Sekeres
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Antonio M Risitano
- Haematology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Jaroslaw P Maciejewski
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
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10
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[Aplastic anemia: Current state of diagnosis and treatment]. Internist (Berl) 2015. [PMID: 26216866 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-015-3662-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Aplastic anemia (AAI) is a rare life-threatening disorder which is characterized by bi- or tricytopenia and hypoplastic or aplastic bone marrow. AA can present as an acquired or congenital disorder. In recent years it was noted that a subgroup of patients with seemingly acquired AA with onset in adulthood carry mutations which cause or at least predispose to bone marrow failure, e.g. mutations in the genes of the telomerase complex. Options for first-line treatment are allogeneic stem cell transplantation or immunosuppression. The decision depends on severity of the disease, age and comorbidity of the patient and availability of a matched stem cell donor. Probability of survival after HLA-identical sibling transplantation exceeds 90% in young patients with bone marrow as the stem cell source and conditioning with an ATG-containing regimen. Results of matched unrelated donor transplantation have improved substantially over the last 10 years. Matched unrelated donor transplantation is increasingly considered as the first-line treatment for very young patients who are candidates for transplantation, but lack an HLA-identical sibling donor. The gold standard for immunosuppression is the combination of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine A (CsA). ATG, a polyvalent antibody preparation, is obtained from animals after immunization with human thymocytes. Response rate and overall survival after horse ATG treatment are significantly higher compared to rabbit ATG. Recent trials reported a surprisingly high rate of bi- and trilinear response to treatment with the thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag in patients refractory to immunosuppression. Ongoing trials now address the potential role of eltrombopag as an adjunct to immunosuppression in first-line treatment.
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Schrezenmeier H, Körper S, Höchsmann B. Immunosuppressive therapy for transplant-ineligible aplastic anemia patients. Expert Rev Hematol 2015; 8:89-99. [PMID: 25572607 DOI: 10.1586/17474086.2015.978759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Aplastic anemia is a rare life-threatening bone marrow failure that is characterized by bicytopenia or pancytopenia in the peripheral blood and a hypoplastic or aplastic bone marrow. The patients are at risk of infection and hemorrhage due to neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and suffer from symptoms of anemia. The main treatment approaches are allogeneic stem cell transplantation and immunosuppression. Here, we review current standard immunosuppression and the attempts that have been made in the past two decades to improve results: review of recent developments also reveals that sometimes not only the advent of new drugs, good ideas and well-designed clinical trials decide the progress in the field but also marketing considerations of pharmaceutical companies. Aplastic anemia experts unfortunately had to face the situation that efficient drugs were withdrawn simply for marketing considerations. We will discuss the current options and challenges in first-line treatment and management of relapsing and refractory patients with an emphasis on adult patients. Some promising new approaches are currently under investigation in prospective, randomized trials.
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Peinemann F, Bartel C, Grouven U. First-line allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of HLA-matched sibling donors compared with first-line ciclosporin and/or antithymocyte or antilymphocyte globulin for acquired severe aplastic anemia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; 2013:CD006407. [PMID: 23881658 PMCID: PMC6718216 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd006407.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired severe aplastic anemia is a rare and potentially fatal disease, which is characterized by hypocellular bone marrow and pancytopenia. The major signs and symptoms are severe infections, bleeding, and exhaustion. First-line allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor (MSD) is a treatment for newly diagnosed patients with severe aplastic anemia. First-line treatment with ciclosporin and/or antithymocyte or antilymphocyte globulin (as first-line immunosuppressive therapy) is an alternative to MSD-HSCT and is indicated for patients where no MSD is found. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and adverse events of first-line allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of HLA-matched sibling donors compared to first-line immunosuppressive therapy including ciclosporin and/or antithymocyte or antilymphocyte globulin in patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia. SEARCH METHODS We searched the electronic databases MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and The Cochrane Library CENTRAL (Wiley) for published articles from 1946 to 22 April 2013. Further searches included trial registries, reference lists of recent reviews, and author contacts. SELECTION CRITERIA The following prospective study designs were eligible for inclusion: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials if the allocation of patients to treatment groups was consistent with 'Mendelian randomization'. We included participants with newly diagnosed severe aplastic anemia who received MSD-HSCT or immunosuppressive therapy without prior HSCT or immunosuppressive therapy, and with a minimum of five participants per treatment group. We did not apply limits on publication year or languages. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors abstracted the data on study and patient characteristics and assessed the risk of bias independently. We resolved differences by discussion or by appeal to a third review author. The primary outcome was overall mortality. Secondary outcomes were treatment-related mortality, graft failure, no response to first-line immunosuppressive therapy, graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), relapse after initial successful treatment, secondary clonal and malignant disease, health-related quality of life, and performance score. MAIN RESULTS We identified three trials that met the inclusion criteria. None of these trials was a RCT. 302 participants are included in this review. The three included studies were prospectively conducted and had features consistent with the principle of 'Mendelian randomization' as defined in the present review. All studies had a high risk of bias due to the study design. All studies were conducted more than 10 years ago and may not be applicable to the standard of care of today. Primary and secondary outcome data showed no statistically significant difference between treatment groups. We present results for first-line allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of an HLA-matched sibling donor, which we denote as the MSD-HSCT group, versus first-line treatment with ciclosporin and/or antithymocyte or antilymphocyte globulin, which we denote as the immunosuppressive therapy group in the following section.The pooled hazard ratio for overall mortality for the MSD-HSCT group versus the immunosuppressive therapy group was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 2.12, P = 0.90, low quality evidence). Therefore, overall mortality was not statistically significantly different between the groups. Treatment-related mortality ranged from 20% to 42% for the MSD-HSCT group and was not reported for the immunosuppressive therapy group (very low quality evidence). The authors reported graft failure from 3% to 16% for the MSD-HSCT group and GVHD from 26% to 51% (both endpoints not applicable for the immunosuppressive therapy group, very low quality evidence). The authors did not report any data on response and relapse for the MSD-HSCT group. For the immunosuppressive therapy group, the studies reported no response from 15% (not time point stated) to 64% (three months) and relapse in one of eight responders after immunosuppressive therapy at 5.5 years (very low quality evidence). The authors reported secondary clonal disease or malignancies for the MSD-HSCT group versus the immunosuppressive therapy group in 1 of 34 versus 0 of 22 patients in one study and in 0 of 28 versus 4 of 86 patients in the other study (low quality evidence). None of the included studies addressed health-related quality of life. The percentage of the evaluated patients with a Karnofsky performance status score in the range of 71% to 100% was 92% in the MSD-HSCT group and 46% in the immunosuppressive therapy group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There are insufficient and biased data that do not allow any conclusions to be made about the comparative effectiveness of first-line allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of an HLA-matched sibling donor and first-line treatment with ciclosporin and/or antithymocyte or antilymphocyte globulin (as first-line immunosuppressive therapy). We are unable to make firm recommendations regarding the choice of intervention for treatment of acquired severe aplastic anemia.
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