In vitro tests in severe aplastic anaemia (SAA): a prospective study in 46 patients treated with immunosuppression

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Abstract
Summary Forty‐six patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) were studied for CFU‐c growth on admission and 1 month post‐treatment with immunosuppression (IS). Twenty‐three patients became transfusion independent after IS, and were considered responders, and 23 did not. CFU‐c growth from unfractionated bone marrow cells was comparable in both groups on admission and 1 month post‐treatment. CFU‐c growth from E rosette depleted BM cells (E‐BM) was also comparable on admission. However, 1 month post‐treatment, responders showed a significantly higher CFU‐c growth (P = 0.02) from E‐BM cells compared to non‐responders. At the same time 7/8 responders studied showed T cell mediated suppression of autologous CFU‐c growth. T cell depletion experiments do not give predictive information on the outcome of IS therapy on admission. They may, however, be helpful to identify responders early post‐treatment.