Aplastic anemia in the elderly: a nationwide survey on behalf of the French Reference Center for Aplastic Anemia.

Aplastic anemia in the elderly: a nationwide survey on behalf of the French Reference Center for Aplastic Anemia. Haematologica. 2018 Sep 27;: Authors: Contejean A, Resche-Rigon M, Tamburini J, Alcantara M, Jardin F, Lengliné E, Adès L, Bouscary D, Marçais A, Lebon D, Chabrot C, Terriou L, Barraco F, Banos A, Bussot L, Cahn JY, Hirsch P, Maillard N, Simon L, Fornecker LM, Socié G, Peffault de Latour R, Sicre de Fontbrune F Abstract Aplastic anemia is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease that may affect older patients. Data regarding the treatment of aplastic anemia in this ageing population remains scarce. We conducted a retrospective nationwide multicenter study in France to examine current treatments for aplastic anemia patients over 60 years old. Our aims were to evaluate efficacy and tolerance, and to analyze predictive factors for response and survival. Over the course of a decade, 88 patients (median age 68.5) were identified in 19 centers, with a median follow-up of 2.7 years; 21% had very severe and 36% severe aplastic anemia. We analyzed 184 treatment lines, mostly involving the standard combination of anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine-A (33%), which was also the most frequent first-line treatment (50%). After first-line therapy, 32% of patients achieved a complete response, and 15% a partial response. Responses were significantly better in first line and in patients with good performance status, as wel...
Source: Haematologica - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Haematologica Source Type: research