Background: Aplastic anemia following chemotherapy of acute leukemia is a common complication, which may lead to severe consequences. Objective: To study characteristics of aplastic anemia occurred in ccute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients, following chemotherapy. Subjects and methods: A prospective study was carried out in 50 AML patients treated at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion from Aug 2005 to Dec 2006. These patients were treated by induction chemotherapy with "3+7" regime. Result: Aplastic anemia had been seen in 100% patients. Characteristics of this condition were poor marrow cells (average marrow cell count was 15.1\xb112.6 G/l) and strongly decreased counts of hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets. Hemoglobin, white blood cell and platelet counts at the lowest level were 83.32 g/l; 0.96 G/l; 30.18 G/l; respectively. This situation prolonged for 3-4 weeks and changed into the most severe condition at the end of second week after chemotherapy. Infection frequency was 92%. Conclusion: Aplastic anemia following chemotherapy of AML patients is a common complication with severe consequences such as significant decrease of WBC and platelet counts, which may lead to opportunistic infection. Hence, this complication must be monitored, detected and treated promptly. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Leukemia ; Myeloid ; Acute/ pathology ; prevention & ; control ; complications ; drug therapy ; Anemia ; Aplastic/ blood ; complications ; pathology

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and megathrombocyte index (MTI) is not clear. METHODS: We examined platelet indices in 900 cases of patients with hematologic disorders and compared them with those of the control to predict thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow. MPV and PDW were measured by Coulter Counter STKS (U.S.A). We calculated megathrombocyte index (MTI, the percentage of megathrombocytes) in the peripheral blood film using ocular micrometer, and examined megakaryocyte number in the bone marrow aspirates. RESULTS: In patients with acute leukemia, and aplastic anemia, MPV and MTI were lower than the control but PDW was higher. In myeloproliferative disorders, all platelet indices were higher, and in ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), MPV and MTI were higher but PDW was not significantly different. MTI was higher in complete remission than initial acute leukemia. All platelet indices were not significantly different between pre- and post-BMT in AML. But in aplastic anemia, MPV and MTI were higher in post-BMT than pre-BMT. MTI was a better index to screen than MPV in the decreased megakaryocyte group, but in increased megakaryocyte group, there was no difference in screening ability between MPV and MTI. CONCLUSIONS: The platelet indices in peripheral blood may be good markers for predicting thrombopoiesis in hematologic disorders and in post chemotherapy of acute leukemia. In addition, after BMT of aplastic anemia, these indices could be used as valuable markers of engraftment.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Blood Platelets* ; Bone Marrow ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Mass Screening ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Megakaryocytes ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Thrombopoiesis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of serum ferritin (SF) and iron overload (IO) pre-immunosupressive treatment (IST) on hematologic response of severe aplastic anemia (SAA/VSAA) patients treated with IST.

METHODS257 SAA/VSAA patients who underwent first-line IST from Feb, 2003 to Dec, 2011 in Anemia Therapeutic Centre, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, the status of SF before IST and the IO-affected factors were studied. The effects of IO on hematologic response of SAA/VSAA patients were evaluated as well.

RESULTSThe median level of SF of 257 patients was 387 (6-2 004) μg/L. 36 patients (14%) had IO, including 20 SAA and 16 VSAA patients. According to univariate logistical regression analyses, IO was influenced by age>14 years (P=0.010) and blood transfusion (P<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that blood transfusion [P=0.001, OR=0.218 (95% CI 0.092-0.520)] was the only independent prognostic factor. SAA (but not for VSAA) patients with IO had much lower hematologic response rate in 6 month after IST (P=0.037). Absolute reticulocyte count and IO correlated with response at 6 month by univariate logistical regression analysis (P=0.014, 0.037). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IO [P=0.021, OR=4.092 (95% CI 1.235-13.563)], ARC ≥20×10(9)/L [P=0.040, OR=2.743 (95% CI 1.049-7.175)] were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION84.8% patients had high serum ferritin before IST, and 14.0% reached IO. Adult and more blood transfusion caused IO more likely. IO correlated with response at 6 month, and was independent prognostic factor.

Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Blood Transfusion ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Iron Overload ; physiopathology ; Logistic Models ; Reticulocyte Count ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of cytopenia with bone marrow hypoplasia in 100 children and to investigate an effective treatment regimen for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in children.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 100 children non-randomly selected from Japan and China who were diagnosed with cytopenia with bone marrow hypoplasia between 2006 and 2011. The data of patients from China were subjected to prognostic analysis.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the proportion of MDS cases and acquired aplastic anemia (AA) cases between the Japanese and Chinese children. Of the 100 patients, there were 29 cases of acquired AA, 58 cases of refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC) and 13 cases of refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD). There were significant differences in reticulocyte absolute value in peripheral blood and degree of bone marrow proliferation among the three patient groups (P<0.05). The patients from China were followed up for 16-70 months (median, 41 months). After being treated with cyclosporine (CsA) combined with stanozolol, the patients with AA had response rates of 25% and 75%, the patients with RCC had response rates of 47.1% and 82.4%, and the patients with RCMD had response rates of 60% and 60% respectively at 3 and 6 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant differences in reticulocyte absolute value in peripheral blood and degree of bone marrow proliferation among patients with RCC, RCMD and acquired AA. CsA combined with stanozolol has a good therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of acquired AA and hypoplastic MDS in children, but studies of more cases and a longer follow-up duration are needed.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pancytopenia ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in aplastic anemia (AA)patients with iron overload.

METHODSA single arm, multi- center, prospective, open- label study was conducted to evaluate absolute change in serum ferritin (SF)from baseline to 12 months of deferasirox administration, initially at a dose of 20 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), and the safety in 64 AA patients with iron overload.

RESULTSAll patients started their deferasirox treatment with a daily dose of 20 mg · kg(-1) ·d(-1). The mean actual dose was (18.6±3.60) mg · kg(-1)·d(-1). The median SF decreased from 4 924 (2 718- 6 765)μg/L at baseline (n=64) to 3 036 (1 474- 5 551)μg/L at 12 months (n=23) with the percentage change from baseline as 38%. A median SF decrease of 651 (126-2 125)μg/L was observed at the end of study in 23 patients who completed 12 months' treatment, the median SF level decreased by 1 167(580-4 806)μg/L [5 271(3 420-8 278)μg/L at baseline; 3 036(1 474-5 551)μg/L after 12 months' treatment; the percentage change from baseline as 42% ] after 12 months of deferasirox treatment. The most common adverse events (AEs) were increased serum creatinine levels (40.98%), gastrointestinal discomfort (40.98%), elevated liver transaminase (ALT: 21.31%; AST: 13.11%)and proteinuria (24.59%). The increased serum creatinine levels were reversible and non-progressive. Of 38 patients with concomitant cyclosporine use, 12(31.8%)patients had two consecutive values >ULN, 10(26.3%)patients had two consecutive values >1.33 baseline values, but only 1(2.6%)patient's serum creatinine increased more than 1.33 baseline values and exceeded ULN. For both AST and ALT, no patients experienced two post- baseline values >5 ×ULN or >10 × ULN during the whole study. In AA patients with low baseline PLT count (less than 50 × 10(9)/L), there was no decrease for median PLT level during 12 months' treatment period.

CONCLUSIONSAA patients with iron overload could achieve satisfactory efficacy of iron chelation by deferasirox treatment. The drug was well tolerated with a clinically manageable safety profile and no major adverse events.

Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Benzoates ; therapeutic use ; Blood Transfusion ; China ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Iron Chelating Agents ; therapeutic use ; Iron Overload ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Prospective Studies ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDCyclosporine A (CsA) has been widely used in the treatment of aplastic anemia (AA), but the application of CsA was limited in patients who had liver diseases or abnormal liver function due to its liver toxicity. Glycyrrhizin has long been used in China in the treatment of various liver diseases to lower transaminases. In this study, we observed the efficacy and safety of glycyrrhizic acid combined with CsA in the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with non-severe AA (NSAA).

METHODSA total number of 76 patients with newly diagnosed NSAA were enrolled into the study at our hospital between July 2005 and June 2010. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the glycyrrhizin-treatment group (group A) and the control group (group B) with 38 patients in each group. All patients received 3 - 5 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) CsA for at least 4 months and were treated either with or without glycyrrhizin for 4 months.

RESULTSsixty-eight patients were eligible for evaluation. In the control group, 9.09% patients (n = 3) achieved a complete response while 51.52% (n = 17) attained a partial response. The overall response rate was 60.61% (n = 20). The remaining 13 patients (39.39%) did not have any response. In the glycyrrhizin-treatment group, complete response rate was 20% (n = 7) and partial response rate was 62.86% (n = 22). The overall response rate was 82.86% (n = 29) and the non-response rate was 17.14% (n = 6). Response rate was significantly increased with the addition of glycyrrhizin to CsA compared with CsA alone (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of glycyrrhizin and cyclosporine regimen was an effective treatment for NSAA in terms of improvement of response rate, reduction in CsA-related liver injury, and attenuation of severity of nausea and other adverse events in the treatment of patients with NSAA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Astragalus Injection (, AI) and its immuno-regulatory action in treating chronic aplastic anemia (CAA).

METHODSSixty patients with CAA were randomly assigned to two groups equally, both were treated with Stanozolol three times a day, 2 mg each time through oral intake, but AI was given additionally to the patients in the treated group once a day via intravenous dripping. All were treated for 15 days as one therapeutic course and the whole medication lasted for more than 4 months totally, with follow-up adopted. The clinical efficacy was estimated and the changes of T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood as well as the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than that in the control group 66.7% (20/30), showing significant difference between them (P<0.05). Levels of hemoglobin, WBC, reticular cell and platelet were elevated in both groups after treatment, but the improvement was significantly better in the treated group than that in the control group with respect to the former three indexes (P<0.05). The level of CD4(+) increased and that of CD8(+) decreased significantly after treatment in the treated group (P<0.05), which showed significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). Levels of serum TNF-alpha and IL-2 lowered after treatment in both groups, but significance only showed in the treated group (P<0.05). The degree of proliferation in bone marrow got raised significantly and the percentage of non-hemopoietic cells reduced significantly in the treated group after treatment, also showing significant difference to those in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAI could promote the recovery of hemopoietic function, which might be through improving T-lymphocyte subsets and reducing the release of negative regulatory factors such as TNF-alpha and IL-2 to alleviate the inhibition on hemopoietic function.

Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Astragalus Plant ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression diversification of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) regulatory T (Treg) cells and Foxp3 mRNA in the peripheral blood of children with aplastic anemia after the treatment with cyclosporine.

METHODSFifty children with chronic aplastic anemia were enrolled, among whom 30 received cyclosporine treatment (cyclosporine group) and 20 were treated with conventional methods (conventional group). Twenty healthy children were enrolled as the control group. The expression of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) Treg cells was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of Foxp3 mRNA was detected by real-time Q-PCR.

RESULTSThe expressions of Foxp3 mRNA and CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low)Treg cells showed no significant difference between the cyclosporine and the control groups 6 months after treatment. On the contrary, there were significantly lower expressions of both in the conventional group than in the control group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the cyclosporine group had significantly higher expressions of Foxp3 mRNA and CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) Treg cells than the conventional group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(low) Treg cells and Foxp3 mRNA in children with aplastic anemia increase after cyclosporine treatment.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Composite Zaizhang decoction (ZZD) on immune function of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) patients.

METHODSTo determine the levels of T-lymphocyte subset, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in CAA patients before and after treatment, and to analyse the regulation of their changes comparatively with the group treated with conventional treatment and a normal control group.

RESULTSBefore treatment, CD4 was lower, CD8 higher, CD4/CD8 ratio also lower, TNF-alpha and IL-2 were higher in the ZZD treated group than those in the normal control group, with significant difference (P < 0.05), but after ZZD treatment, these indexes were all inversely changed, as compared with those before treatment and with those in the control group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZZD might relieve the hemopoietic inhibition so as to promote the recovery of hemopoietic function through improving the T-lymphocyte subset and reducing the release of hemopoietic negative ragulatory factors such as TNF-alpha and IL-2 etc.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism