184 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The main goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of eltrombopag (ETB) when compared to other treatments in Japanese aplastic anemia (AA) patients using data from the Medical Data Vision (MDV) hospital-based database.
Anemia, Aplastic
This phase II trial tests how well a ruxolitinib-based graft versus host disease (GVHD) prevention (prophylaxis) regimen works before, during, and after bone marrow/stem cell transplantation (hematopoietic cell transplantation \[HCT\]) in patients with acquired aplastic anemia. Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a condition in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells. Affected patients typically present with infections due to abnormally low number of neutrophils, bleeding due to low platelet count, and/or fatigue due to a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells (anemia). Its incidence varies with age, occurring most frequently in patients aged 2-5 years, 20-25 years, and 55 years and older. Treatment of AA includes either immunosuppressive therapy (IST) or bone marrow/stem cell transplantation (HCT) with first-line therapy in younger adults often being HCT, while adults over 40 still frequently trial IST first due to the morbidity and mortality concerns with HCT. GVHD is a common complication after donor stem cell transplantation, resulting from donor immune cells recognizing recipients' cells and attacking them. Ruxolitinib, a drug in a class of oral medications called JAK inhibitors has been approved for the treatment of acute and chronic GVHD. It has also been shown to decrease GVHD when used in the prevention setting in patients with myelofibrosis. The current study aims to assess whether adding ruxolitinib to a standard GVHD prevention regimen may reduce the risk of Grade II-IV acute and chronic GVHD after bone marrow/stem cell transplantation in older patients with acquired aplastic anemia.
Aplastic Anemia
BMT CTN 2207 will investigate the use of marrow transplantation for treatment of severe aplastic anemia that has not previously been treated.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
The purpose of this study is to find out whether upfront emapalumab treatment can help in sAA (Aplastic Anemia) treatment planning and increase the effectiveness of standard treatment options. Funding Source- FDA OOPD
Aplastic Anemia, Cytopenia, Hypocellular Marrow
A phase II trial of a reduced intensity conditioned (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) for idiopathic severe aplastic anemia (SAA), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), acquired pure red cell aplasia (aPRCA), or acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (aAT) utilizing population pharmacokinetic (popPK)-guided individual dosing of pre-transplant conditioning and differential dosing of low dose total body irradiation based on age, presence of myelodysplasia and/or clonal hematopoiesis.
Severe Aplastic Anemia, Acquired Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia, Acquired Pure Red Cell Aplasia, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
This phase I trial evaluates the safety and feasibility of using a reduced-intensity regimen of cyclophosphamide, pentostatin, and anti-thymocyte globulin prior to a CD4+ T-cell depleted haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplant (haploHCT) for the treatment of patients with severe aplastic anemia that does not respond to treatment (refractory) or that has come back (recurrent). Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid. It may also lower the body's immune response. Pentostatin blocks a protein needed for cell growth. Anti-thymocyte globulin is an immunosuppressive drug can destroy immune cells known as T-cells. HaploHCT transfers blood-forming stem cells from a healthy partially-matched donor to a patient. Administering a regimen of cyclophosphamide, pentostatin, and anti-thymocyte globulin before haploHCT may help make room for the new, healthy cells and may reduce the risk of graft versus host disease.
Recurrent Severe Aplastic Anemia, Refractory Severe Aplastic Anemia
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA) is a rare condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells. SAA can be cured with immune suppressive therapy or a bone marrow transplant. Regular treatment for patients with aplastic anemia who have a matched sibling (brother or sister), or family donor is a bone marrow transplant. Patients without a matched family donor normally are treated with immune suppressive therapy (IST). Match unrelated donor (URD) bone marrow transplant (BMT) is used as a secondary treatment in patients who did not get better with IST, had their disease come back, or a new worse disease replaced it (like leukemia). This trial will compare time from randomization to failure of treatment or death from any cause of IST versus URD BMT when used as initial therapy to treat SAA. The trial will also assess whether health-related quality of life and early markers of fertility differ between those randomized to URD BMT or IST, as well as assess the presence of marrow failure-related genes and presence of gene mutations associated with MDS or leukemia and the change in gene signatures after treatment in both study arms. This study treatment does not include any investigational drugs. The medicines and procedures in this study are standard for treatment of SAA.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
This study is a prospective, single center phase II clinical trial in which patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA) ) will receive a haploidentical transplantation. The purpose of this study is to learn more about newer methods of transplanting blood forming cells donated by a family member that is not fully matched to the patient. This includes studying the effects of the chemotherapy, radiation, the transplanted cell product and additional white blood cell (lymphocyte) infusions on the patient's body, disease and overall survival. The primary objective is to assess the rate of engraftment at 30 days and overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) at 1 year post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Primary Objectives * To estimate the rate of engraftment at 30 days after TCR αβ+ T-cell-depleted graft infusion in patients receiving a single dose of post graft infusion cyclophosphamide. * To estimate the overall survival and event free survival at 1-year post transplantation. Secondary Objectives * To calculate the incidence of acute and chronic GVHD after HCT. * To calculate the rate of secondary graft rejection at 1-year post transplantation * To calculate the cumulative incidence of viral reactivation (CMV, EBV and adenovirus). * To describe the immune reconstitution after TCR αβ+ T-cell-depleted graft infusion at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year. Exploratory Objectives * To longitudinally assess the phenotype and epigenetic profile of T-cells in SAA patients receiving HCT for SAA. * To assess the phenotype and epigenetic profile of T-cells in DLI administered to SAA patients post HCT. * To longitudinally assess CD8 T cell differentiation status in SAA patients using an epigenetic atlas of human CD8 T cell differentiation. * To examine the effector functions and proliferative capacity of CD8 T cells isolated from SAA patients before and after DLI. * Quantify donor derived Treg cells at different time points in patients received HCT. * Determine Treg activation status at different stages after HCT. * Are specific features of the DLI product associated with particular immune repertoire profiles post-transplant? * How does the diversity and functional profile of the DLI product alter the response to pathogens in the recipient? * Do baseline features of the recipient's innate and adaptive immune cells correlate with post-transplant immune repertoires and response profiles?
Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome
Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a form of bone marrow failure. It usually results from a cytotoxic T cell attack on the marrow stem cell. Two treatments can be used for most people with SAA. One is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The other is immunosuppressive treatment (IST). For people who are treated with IST, relapse can occur. If this happens, they can have HSCT or be re-treated with IST. The two most common IST regimes used for relapsed SAA are rabbit ATG (rATG) and alemtuzumab. Both rATG and alemtuzumab have similar response rates and survival rates. There is not much long-term data on people who need repeat IST treatment due to relapse. Researchers want to look at data from past studies to learn more. Objective: To compare the data of relapsed SAA patients between those who received alemtuzumab versus rATG for repeat IST treatment. Eligibility: Adults and children with SAA who were enrolled on NHLBI protocol 12-H-0150, 06-H-0034, 05-H-0242, 03-H-0249, 03-H-0193, 00-H-0032, or 90-H-0146 Design: This study uses data from past studies. The participants in those studies have allowed their data to be used in future research. Researchers will review participants medical records. They will collect clinical data, such as notes, test results, and imaging scans. They will also collect the research data gathered as part of the original study. Researchers will enter the data into an in-house database. It is password protected. All data will be kept in secure network drives or in secure sites. Other studies may be added in the future....
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a form of bone marrow failure. It usually results from a cytotoxic T cell attack on the marrow stem cell. Two treatments can be used for SAA. One is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The other is immunosuppressive treatment (IST). In most cases, HSCT or IST works. But for some people, clonal evolution occurs after IST. One of the most common forms of clonal evolution is chromosome 7 abnormalities. These have a poor prognosis. HSCT can be used to treat them. Researchers do not know why clonal evolution happens. They want to look at data from past studies to learn more. Objective: To compare the data of people with SAA who developed chromosome 7 abnormalities between those who ultimately received HSCT versus those who received chemotherapy alone or supportive care. Eligibility: Adults and children with SAA who were enrolled on NHLBI protocol 12-H-0150, 06-H-0034, 03-H-0249, 03-H-0193, 00-H-0032, or 90-H-0146 Design: This study uses data from past studies. The participants in those studies have allowed their data to be used in future research. Researchers will review participants medical records. They will collect clinical data, such as notes, test results, and imaging scans. They will also collect the research data gathered as part of the original study. Researchers will enter the data into an in-house database. It is password protected. All data will be kept in secure network drives or in sites that comply with NIH security rules. Other studies may be added in the future.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
This study is researching an experimental drug called REGN7257 (called "study drug"). The study is focused on patients who have severe aplastic anemia (SAA), a disease of the bone marrow resulting in an impairment of the production of blood cells. The main purpose of this two-part study (Part A and Part B) is to test how safe and tolerable REGN7257 is in patients with SAA in which other Immunosuppressive therapies (ISTs) have not worked well. The study is looking at several other research questions to better understand the following properties of REGN7257: * Side effects that may be experienced by participants taking REGN7257 * How REGN7257 works in the body * How much REGN7257 is present in blood after dosing * If REGN7257 works to raise levels of certain blood counts after treatment * How quickly REGN7257 works to raise levels of certain blood counts * In patients for whom REGN7257 works to raise levels of certain blood counts after treatment, how many continue to show such a response throughout the study * If REGN7257 works to lower the number of platelet and red blood cell transfusions needed * How REGN7257 changes immune cell counts and composition * How the body reacts to REGN7257 and if it produces proteins that bind to REGN7257 (this would be called the formation of anti-drug antibodies \[ADA\])
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA)
Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare and serious blood disorder. It causes the immune system to turn against bone marrow cells. Standard treatment for SSA is a combination of 3 drugs (Cyclosporine \[CsA\], Eltrombopag \[EPAG\], and horse anti-thymocyte globulin \[h-ATG\]). Researchers want to see if starting people at a lower dose of CsA with EPAG before giving them h-ATG is helpful. Objective: To learn if early initiation of oral therapy with CsA and EPAG is safe and effective in people who have SAA and have not been treated with a course of immunosuppressive therapy and EPAG. Eligibility: People ages 3 and older with SAA Design: Participants will be screened with: medical history physical exam electrocardiogram blood tests family history bone marrow biopsy current medicines. Participants may be screened remotely via telephone conference. Participants will take a lower oral dose of CsA and EPAG. They will take CsA twice a day for 6 months. They will take EPAG for 6 months. Those who cannot visit the NIH Clinical Center within 72 hours will start taking the drugs at home. They will have weekly telephone calls with NIH staff until they visit the Clinical Center. Participants may get h-ATG at the Clinical Center for 4 days. For this, they will have a central line placed. It is a plastic tube inserted into a neck, chest, or arm vein. Participants will repeat most screening tests throughout the study. Participants will have follow-up visits at the Clinical Center at 3 months, 6 months, and annually for 5 years after the start of the study....
Severe Aplastic Anemia
The main purpose of this study is to learn if a new combination of chemotherapy, in combination with low-dose radiation, will be safe for the patient, and at the same time provide the best opportunity to cure the bone marrow cancer. The combination of chemotherapy and radiation described in the study is considered 'low intensity.' Although the chemotherapy agents used in this study and for transplant are FDA approved, the chemotherapy treatment and conditioning regimens or combinations listed in this consent are not yet FDA approved. The CliniMACS device is FDA approved for one type of T cell depletion (positive selection of the stem cells) but not approved yet for other type of T cell depletion, which is being studied on this protocol. This pilot study, along with other studies will serve as the basis for FDA approval, if outcomes are favorable.
Myeloid Diseases
Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) cause serious blood problems. Stem cell transplants using bone marrow or blood plus chemotherapy can help. Researchers want to see if using peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) rather than bone marrow cells works too. PBSCs are easier to collect and have more cells that help transplants. Objectives: To see how safely and effectively SAA, MDS and PNH are treated using peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells from a family member plus chemotherapy. Eligibility: Recipients ages 4-60 with SAA, MDS or PNH and their relative donors ages 4-75 Design: Recipients will have: * Blood, urine, heart, and lung tests * Scans * Bone marrow sample Recipients will need a caregiver for several months. They may make fertility plans and a power of attorney. Donors will have blood and tissue tests, then injections to boost stem cells for 5-7 days. Donors will have blood collected from a tube in an arm or leg vein. A machine will separate stem cells and maybe white blood cells. The rest of the blood will be returned into the other arm or leg. In the hospital for about 1 month, recipients will have: * Central line inserted in the neck or chest * Medicines for side effects * Chemotherapy over 8 days and radiation 1 time * Stem cell transplant over 4 hours Up to 6 months after transplant, recipients will stay near NIH for weekly physical exams and blood tests. At day 180, recipients will go home. They will have tests at their doctor s office and NIH several times over 5 years.
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA), Hypo-Plastic Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Background: Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are bone marrow diseases. People with these diseases usually need a bone marrow transplant. Researchers are testing ways to make stem cell transplant safer and more effective. Objective: To test if treating people with SAA or MDS with a co-infusion of blood stem cells from a family member and cord blood stem cells from an unrelated donor is safe and effective. Eligibility: Recipients ages 4-60 with SAA or MDS Donors ages 4-75 Design: Recipients will be screened with: * Blood, lung, and heart tests * Bone marrow biopsy * CT scan Recipients will have an IV line placed into a vein in the neck. Starting 11 days before the transplant they will have several chemotherapy infusions and 1 30-minute radiation dose. Recipients will get the donor cells through the IV line. They will stay in the hospital 3-4 weeks. After discharge, they will have visits: * First 3-4 months: 1-2 times weekly * Then every 6 months for 5 years Donors will be screened with: * Physical exam * Medical history * Blood tests Donors veins will be checked for suitability for stem cell collection. They may need an IV line to be placed in a thigh vein. Donors will get Filgrastim or biosimilar (G-CSF) injections daily for 5-7 days. On the last day, they will have apheresis: Blood drawn from one arm or leg runs through a machine and into the other arm or leg. This may be repeated 2 days or 2-4 weeks later.
Severe Aplastic Anemia, Hypo-Plastic MDS, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
This is a phase II, open label, multi-center, intra-patient dose escalation study to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) after oral administration of eltrombopag in combination with immunosuppressive therapy in pediatric patients with previously untreated or relapsed/refractory severe aplastic anemia or recurrent aplastic anemia.
Aplastic Anemia
Background: People with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) do not make enough red and white blood cells, and/or platelets. Their body's immune system stops the bone marrow from making these cells. The treatment cyclosporine leads to better blood counts. But when this treatment is stopped, the disease may return in 1 in 3 people. The drug sirolimus may help by suppressing the immune system. Objective: To evaluate and compare the usefulness of sirolimus in preventing aplastic anemia from returning after cyclosporine is stopped, compared with stopping cyclosporine alone. Eligibility: People ages 2 and older with SAA who: Have responded to immunosuppressive therapy that includes cyclosporine, and continue to take cyclosporine Are not taking drugs with hematologic effects Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Bone marrow biopsy: The area above the hipbone will be numbed. A thin needle will remove some bone marrow. Participants will be randomly assigned to a group. All will stop cyclosporine. Group 1 will take sirolimus by mouth at the same time each day for 3 months with close monitoring. Group 2 will not receive the study drug but will be monitored closely. Participants will have clinical tests for the first 3 months: Weekly blood test Monthly fasting blood test For group 1, measurements of sirolimus in the blood every 1 2 weeks Participants will have clinic visits at 3 months, 12 months, and annually for 5 years after the study starts. They may have another visit if their SAA returns. These will include: Blood and urine tests Bone marrow biopsy...
Severe Aplastic Anemia
This study is a prospective, multicenter phase II study with patients receiving haploidentical transplantation for Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA). The primary objective is to assess overall survival (OS) at 1 year post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Severe Aplastic Anemia
The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of comparing outcomes of patients treated de novo with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) versus matched unrelated donor (MUD) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for pediatric acquired severe aplastic anemia.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Our primary objective is to determine if it is feasible for previously untreated severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients to be transplanted using non-myeloablative conditioning and post transplantation cyclophosphamide.
Severe Aplastic Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Failure, Immunosuppression
Severe aplastic anemia is a rare and serious form of bone marrow failure related to an immune-mediated mechanism that results in severe pancytopenia and high risk for infections and bleeding. Patients with matched sibling donors for transplantation have a 80-90% chance of survival; however, a response rate with just immunosuppression for those patients lacking suitable HLA-matched related siblings is only 60%. With immunosuppression, only 1/3 of patients are cured, 1/3 are dependent on long term immunosuppression, and the other 1/3 relapse or develop a clonal disorder. Recent studies have shown that using a haploidentical donor for transplantation has good response rates and significantly lower rates of acute and chronic GVHD.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
An open label single arm study to assess efficacy and safety of BL-8040 on top of standard immunotherapy regimen of hATG, cyclosporine and steroids in patients with Hypoplastic MDS and AA over the course of a six month (180 day) treatment period.
Aplastic Anemia, Hypoplastic Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Our primary objective is to determine if it is feasible for SAA patients to be transplanted using non-myeloablative conditioning and post transplantation cyclophosphamide with partially HLA-mismatched donors.
Severe Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
Fludarabine-based preparative regimen followed by an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant using related or unrelated donor in persons 0-70 years of age diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita or severe aplastic anemia who have bone marrow failure characterized by a requirement for red blood cell and platelet transfusions. Three different preparative regimens are included based on disease and donor type.
Dyskeratosis Congenita, Aplastic Anemia
Background: - This research is being done to describe the types of bacteria found in the mouths of patients who have severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and are treated with drugs that suppress the immune system or with stem cell transplant. People with SAA who receive these treatments are more likely to get infections. Studies show that there might be a link between the bacteria in your mouth and those bacteria that can cause infections. The bacteria found in the mouths of patients with SAA will be described. Objectives: - To understand the changes in mouth bacteria that are related to treatment and to describe the oral bacterial environment. Eligibility: * Adults at least 18 years of age who are going to be treated for SAA. * Healthy volunteers at least 18 years of age. Design: * Participants will answer questions about their medical history and dental care. Their mouths will be examined. * Participants with SAA will be tested during treatment for their disease, over the course of 1 year. All participants with SAA will be tested at 3 scheduled appointments. Any participants who require a breathing tube will receive additional tests. * Healthy volunteers will be tested during 1 visit. * Participants will give two samples each time. A saliva sample will be taken with a disposable padded tool. Skin cells will be collected from the tongue with a small plastic brush.
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA)
Background: - Eltrombopag is a drug being tested for treating severe aplastic anemia. It can help improve blood counts in these patients. However, researchers do not know how long the drug can and should be taken for this type of anemia. Objectives: - To look at whether 6 months of treatment with eltrombopag can improve patient s blood counts. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 2 years of age who are taking eltrombopag for severe aplastic anemia. Design: * Participants will take eltrombopag by mouth once a day for 6 months. * Blood samples will be collected every 2 weeks for the first 6 months. Bone marrow samples will be collected at 3 and 6 months. These samples will look at the effects of the study drug on the marrow. * Participants will continue to take the study drug for as long as it is effective and if the side effects are not severe.
Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA)
The investigators hypothesis is that eltrombopag given to patients with moderate to very severe aplastic anemia will result in an increase in platelet counts. The investigators hypothesize that in patients with moderate to very severe aplastic anemia, treatment with eltrombopag will lead to fewer platelet transfusions, red blood cell transfusions, and fewer bleeding events. The investigators hypothesize that in patients with moderate to very severe aplastic anemia, eltrombopag will have an acceptable toxicity rate \<3%, at doses that result in increased platelet counts. Finally the investigators hypothesize that plasma eltrombopag levels in peripheral blood will correlate with improved platelet counts.
Severe Aplastic Anemia, Very Severe Aplastic Anemia, Moderate Aplastic Anemia
This phase II trial studies methylprednisolone, horse anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, filgrastim, and/or pegfilgrastim or pegfilgrastim biosimilar in treating patients with aplastic anemia or low or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Horse anti-thymocyte globulin is made from horse blood and targets immune cells known as T-lymphocytes. Since T-lymphocytes are believed to be involved in causing low blood counts in aplastic anemia and in some cases of myelodysplastic syndromes, killing these cells may help treat the disease. Methylprednisolone and cyclosporine work to suppress immune cells called lymphocytes. This may help to improve low blood counts in aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Filgrastim and pegfilgrastim are designed to cause white blood cells to grow. This may help to fight infections and help improve the white blood cell count. Giving methylprednisolone and horse anti-thymocyte globulin together with cyclosporine, filgrastim, and/or pegfilgrastim may be an effective treatment for patients with aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.
Aplastic Anemia, de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Background: * Severe aplastic anemia is a rare and serious blood disorder. It happens when the immune system starts to attack the bone marrow cells. This causes the bone marrow to stop making red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. Standard treatment for this disease is horse-ATG and cyclosporine, which suppress the immune system and stop it from attacking the bone marrow. However, this treatment does not work in all people. Some people still have poor blood cell counts even after treatment. * Eltrombopag is a drug designed to mimic a protein in the body called thrombopoietin. It helps the body to make more platelets. It may also cause the body to make more red and white blood cells. Studies have shown that eltrombopag may be useful when added to standard treatment for severe aplastic anemia. It may help improve poor blood cell counts. Objectives: - To test the safety and effectiveness of adding eltrombopag to standard immunosuppressive therapy for severe aplastic anemia. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 2 years of age who have severe aplastic anemia that has not yet been treated. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam, medical history, and blood tests. Blood and urine samples will be collected. * Participants will start treatment with horse-ATG and cyclosporine. Treatment will be given according to the standard of care for the disease. * Cohort 1: After 14 days, participants will start taking eltrombopag. They will take eltrombopag for up to 6 months. * Cohort 2: After 14 days, participants will start taking eltrombopag. They will take eltrombopag for up to 3 months. * Cohort 3 and Extension Cohort: Participants will start taking eltrombopag on Day 1. They will take eltrombopag for up to 6 months. * Participants may receive other medications to prevent infections during treatment. * Treatment will be monitored with frequent blood tests. Participants will also fill out questionnaires about their symptoms and their quality of life.
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Patients with severe, refractory aplastic anemia have a severe, life threatening disease in their bone marrow. Refractory disease means that disease has come back or not responded after receiving one or more immunosuppressive treatments. High dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been used to treat blood diseases like aplastic anemia but complications from Graft vs Host disease (GVHD) and graft failure have limited the survival for those patients. Another study done here at Johns Hopkins has shown that in patients with other diseases (blood cancers) some immunosuppressive drugs given after the BMT has decreased how often patients had complications of GVHD and engraftment failure. This research is being done to find if this approach will help patients with aplastic anemia who have failed other treatments will have better outcomes.
Severe Aplastic Anemia