Consider Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation for Older, Fit Patients with Aplastic Anemia

Effective treatment for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is either allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) [1,2] or nontransplant immunosuppressive therapy (IST) containing antithymocyte globulin (ATG) [3,4]. Both treatment approaches have advanced over the recent decades to achieve significantly improved outcomes. Considering that allogeneic BMT is a more durable treatment with a reduced risk of long-term complications and improved overall survival compared with IST, there is widespread consensus that BMT is the preferred first-line therapy for younger patients with SAA who have an HLA-matched sibling donor [1].