Induced complete remission faster in adult patients with acquired pure red cell aplasia by combining cyclosporine A with corticosteroids

To evaluate whether the adult patients with acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) could benefit more from cyclosporine A (CsA) combined with corticosteroids (CS) than CsA or CS alone. Seventy-three patients were evaluated in 2 institutions (6 patients lost to follow-up). The induction therapy included CsA (n = 21), CS (n = 21), or CsA combined with CS (n = 31), and remission was achieved in 16/21 (76.2%), 10/21 (47.6%), and 21/31 (71.0%) patients, respectively. Higher complete remission (CR) rate was achieved in CsA combined with CS group than in CS group (61.3% vs 19.0%, P = .003). Patients achieved CR faster in CsA combined with CS group than in CS group or CsA group (median time, 1 month vs 2 month vs 3 month, P = .010). By multivariate analysis, CsA combined with CS therapy and primary PRCA were the influence factors for CR rate. Twenty-seven patients relapsed due to discontinuation or tapering therapy, and 19 patients regained response by increasing the dose of original regimens or changing to other immunosuppressive therapy. Complete remission to induction therapy was a correlative factor for death (P = .035). CsA combined with CS produced faster and higher CR rate in treating adult patients with PRCA than did CsA or CS alone.