In this study of 242 consecutive patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for progressive myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), outcomes were compared between patients receiving rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG; n=93) and those who did not (n=149). Three-year overall and event-free survival, relapse, non-relapse mortality, and chronic GVHD were not significantly different between the two cohorts. Grade II-IV acute GVHD occurred more frequently in the no-ATG group than in the ATG group: 55% vs. 27%, respectively (p<0.0001). In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Andrea Bacigalupo concludes that this study "adds further evidence to the fact that ATG protects against GVHD without a detrimental effect on relapse and survival."
Pre-Transplant ATG Protects against GVHD in MDS
Apr 2014