Reasoning from an earlier observation that some of the patients with autoimmune aplastic anemia who did well after allogenic bone marrow transplantation had repopulated their marrow with their own stems cells rather than those of the donor, these researchers and others came to two important conclusions. Second, disease remission may be caused by the cyclophosphamide-induced immunoablation itself, with or without marrow transplantation. Applying this reasoning, several groups now treat autoimmune aplastic anemia by using an immunoablative course of high-dose cyclophosphamide alone. According to Brodsky, many now consider this approach as primary therapy for this disease. Summary Each of the new approaches to treating SLE offers some hope in the ongoing effort to respond effectively to the challenges of this debilitating and often lethal condition.
Research is extremely active and promises to accelerate as more is learned.
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