Abstract
Busulfan was added at the dose of 4 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide in 81 patients (3-53 years, median 24) with aplastic anemia to reduce graft rejection. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis comprised cyclosporine-methotrexate. The number of prior transfusions was 0-276 (median 26), and 48% had received prior immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients experienced primary graft failure, and 10 secondary rejection at 28-1001 days (median 317 days). The cumulative incidence of rejection was 22%; for heavily transfused patients (≥50 U) it was 43% compared to 16% for the rest (P=0.06). Overall survival rate at 8 years was 56%; patients who received ≤15 and > 15 transfusions was 78 and 50%, respectively (P=0.01), whereas it was 67 and 28% for ≤50 and >50 transfusions, respectively (P=0.002). In multivariate analysis, higher number of prior transfusions, shorter period of immunosuppression with cyclosporine and GVHD were associated with inferior survival; moreover, a higher risk of graft rejection were associated with a higher number of prior transfusions and a trend was observed for a shorter cyclosporine administration. Low-dose busulfan is feasible and may be helpful in patients exposed to <50 transfusions. However, rejection remains a significant problem, mainly in heavily transfused patients.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 9-13 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Bone Marrow Transplantation |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
- Aplastic anemia
- Busulfan
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Transplantation