Re-treatment of XXXX with antithymocyte globulin or antilymphocyte serum.

@entity1 @entity229 @entity2150 @entity6240 @entity3800
Twenty-two @entity1 with @entity2150 were treated with antilymphocyte serum or antithymocyte globulin at Vanderbilt University and affiliated hospitals from 1980 to 1986. The median age was 42 (eight to 73 years); the male:female ratio was 8:14. Nineteen @entity1 had severe @entity2150 , and three had moderate disease. Twenty patients received antilymphocyte serum initially while two patients received antithymocyte globulin. Fifteen @entity1 received @entity6240 10 mg by mouth three times a day with antilymphocyte serum, and all received @entity229 during the course of antilymphocyte serum or antithymocyte globulin. There were seven responses (31.8 percent) to the first course with four complete responses and three partial responses. Six of 15 @entity1 who received @entity6240 showed a response, compared with zero of five treated without @entity3800 (p less than 0.05). Eight @entity1 with no initial response and a @entity1 who experienced a relapse after a complete response were re-treated with either antithymocyte globulin (six) or antilymphocyte serum (three), with four of nine @entity1 (44 percent) having a response (three complete responses, one partial response). Overall, 10 of 22 @entity1 (45 percent) had a response (six complete responses, four partial responses). Median survival for those without a response is six months. Median survival for those with a response has not been reached, with follow-up ranging from 18 to 70 months. This study shows the benefit of a second cycle of antilymphocyte serum or antithymocyte globulin and a possible role for concomitant @entity3800 in this treatment of @entity2150 .
