A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 32 cases of aplastic anemia diagnosed at Chungnam National University Hospital from August 1985 to July 1991 was done.
1) The highest incidence of aplastic anemia was seen in the third decade and 25 cases of patients(78.2％) were below 40 years of age. The incidence decreased in older age groups.
2) Exposure to possible toxic agents were seen in 6 cases(18.8％), among which benzene was related in 2 cases(6.3％), herb drug in 2 cases(6.3％), acute viral hepatitis(type B) in 1 case(3.1％),antifungal agent in 1 case(3.1％).
3) Initially all patients were treated with oxymetholone with or without prednisolone and supportive care. Eleven(37.9％) out of twenty-nine patients showed responses(CR： 17.2％ , PR： 20.6％). Nine out of the eighteen patiens who did not respond to androgen therapy were treated with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) plus methylprednisolone. Two patients(22.2％) out of 9 showed complete responses.
4) Overall responses of present series of patients was 44.8％ (androgen±prenisolone therapy： 37.9％ , ALG+methylprednisolone： 6.9％). The actuarial survival of all patients at 72 months was 83.4％. The median survival rate of severe aplastic anemia(32 months) was similiar to that of moderate aplastic anemia(37 months).
5) Factors associated with favourable survival were male sex and presence of etiological factor.
Since the prognosis of aplastic anemia in Korea is quite favorable, randomized controlled study would be needed to define the therapeutic roles of bone marrow transplantation of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with severe aplastic anemia in Korea.
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