other therapies

Last reviewed 01/2018

Less common approaches to treatment include:

  • high dose corticosteroids } all have substantial
  • cyclophosphamide } toxicity and should not be
  • cyclosporin A } used routinely

  • human haematopoietic growth factors - granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GH-CSF) effectively increase granulocytes, with red cells and platelets unaffected. Response requires at least a low level of ongoing haematopoiesis. Growth factors should not be used as the sole means of therapy in severe aplastic anaemia unless there is a rare primary growth factor deficiency.