IDIOPATHIC APLASTIC ANAEMIA IN CHILDREN - RESULTS OF ANDROGEN TREATMENT

The results of treatment of 19 children with idiopathic aplastic anaemia is reported. Initially the patients received testosterone‐prednisone therapy. When a satisfactory haemoglobin level had been reached metandienon was substituted for testosterone and the corticosteroids withheld. 8 patients died without signs of response, 2 patients responded initially but died later. The remaining 9 patients are alive but in only 3 of them was it possible to discontinue all therapy without signs of relapse. The rate of remission varied considerably. One patient required 23 months of combined therapy to achieve a normal haemoglobin level. A moderate hypoplasia of the bone^marrow at the start of therapy was the most favourable prognostic sign in this series. Therefore, it may be concluded that every effort should be made to diagnose the disease before the bone‐marrow changes have progressed to severe hypoplasia. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved