For young patients in relatively good health prior to transplant, and who have a matched donor, more than half are successfully cured by bone marrow transplantation. For patients who do not have a matched donor, who are over 40 years of age or who are not good candidates for bone marrow transplantation, other forms of therapy are being used. Drug Therapies Doctors may recommend that the patient start on drug therapy while searching for a donor, or drug therapy may be the best choice for treatment for that patient. New therapies are being developed all the time. Be sure to talk with the doctor about what is available.
Immunosuppressive therapies work with a patient's immune system.
One theory about aplastic anemias that the patient's immune system is fighting against itself, thereby interfering with production of blood cells. These drugs are believed to work by stimulating the bone marrow to produce cells or by reducing the patient's immune response and thereby allowing the bone marrow to work. ATG, antithymocyte globulin, or ALG, antilymphocyte globulin, are two types of immunosuppressive therapies that have been used for treating aplastic anemia. Another immunosuppressive drug is cyclosporin, which may be given alone or in combination with androgens, antilymphocyte globulin or serum. It is thought that cyclosporin plus androgens may stimulate blood cell production.