Acquired aplastic anemia: treatment in a developing country

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation of aplastic anemia as well as to assess the efficacy of Cyclosporin-A in patients with aplastic anemia. This is a hospital based interventional study. During the three year study period, 44 children were enrolled. Mean age was 9.3 years and there was a male predominance. Most common clinical presentation was anemia and bleeding. Four children died before therapy was started. Cyclosporin-A was started in 40 patients. Eleven patients died before completion of therapy and three patients were lost to follow-up. Out of 26 patients who completed therapy, 11 were cured and 9 were responders while 6 were non responders according to the selected criteria. In developing third world countries like Pakistan majority of the patients with aplastic anemia cannot afford BMT. Alternative modalities of treatment must therefore be looked into. Cyclosporin-A seems to be a reasonable therapeutic option in such cases