187例自身免疫性肝病的临床特点分析

目的分析自身免疫性肝病（AILD）的临床、生化及免疫学特点。方法分析北京大学人民医院2001年1月～2010年12月187例自身免疫性肝病患者的临床表现、生化及免疫学特点。结果 AILD的发病以40岁以上女性多见,30.5%（57/187）的患者确诊时已进展为肝硬化失代偿期。临床症状无特异性,自身免疫性肝炎（AIH）以ALT、IgG及γ球蛋白升高更为明显（P〈0.05）,而PBC以ALP、GGT、IgM升高更为明显（P〈0.05）。AILD患者常合并一种或多种肝外自身免疫病,AILD合并干燥综合症最为常见,AIH组及PBC组合并干燥综合症的发生率均达30%以上。AILD患者均有一种或多种自身抗体阳性,其中AIH组ANA阳性率为88.3%,AMA阳性率为7.5%（3/40）,AMA-M2阳性3.7%（2/54）;PBC组ANA阳性率为88.2%（97/110）,AMA阳性率为96.4%（81/84）,AMA-M2阳性率为94.4%（85/90）。AIH患者主要应用糖皮质激素治疗,其中共46例（59.7%）患者单用或联用UDCA治疗后肝脏酶学指标改善。结论生化、免疫学、自身抗体等检查对诊断与鉴别诊断具有重要意义。UDCA在AIH的治疗中有一定的作用。     

Treatment of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia using 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine

 Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) is an atypical lympho-proliferative disorder with borderline features that often constitute a diagnostic challenge for the hematopathologist and a therapeutic dilemma for the treating clinician. Morphologically, the involved lymph nodes in this disorder are characterized by abnormal infilitration by immunoblasts and plasma cells, often in clusters or sheets. Regressed follicles may be seen; these are referred to as "burned out." Neovascularization is prominent, and a background of inflammatory cells is usually present. AILD was originally thought to represent an exaggerated autoimmune response. Because of the short median survival of the patients and the demonstration of T-cell clonality, AILD now is considered an aggressive lymphoma and is recognized as a subset of peripheral T-cell lymphoma by the REAL classification. In this article we present a patient with AILD who achieved durable patrial remission after treatment with one cycle of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. Received: 16 March 1994 / Accepted: 8 July 1996     

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation in relapsing angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD).

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) or lymphogranulomatosis X is a lymphoproliferative disorder with a histological picture resembling that of reactive lesions but with frequent cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities characteristic of malignant T cell lymphoma. Clinically, the disease runs a fatal course in the majority of patients although occasional spontaneous remissions have been observed. Median survival approaches only 1 year even with the most effective treatment protocols implemented so far. Fewer than 20% of patients survive 5 years after diagnosis and cure seems exceedingly rare. High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) represents a promising new treatment modality for patients with advanced lymphoma conceivably including AILD. We report the first patient with relapsed AILD successfully treated by HDCT and ABMT. This 21-year-old male is alive and free of disease 27 months after ABMT with a Karnofsky score of 100%.     

A single-centre study of treatment outcomes and survival in 120 patients with peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

We conducted a retrospective study of treatment outcomes and survival in 120 consecutive, unselected patients with peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, presenting at a single centre over a 20-year period. Cases met the criteria of the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) Classification and patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the following subtypes were included: anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma (ALCL), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILD), peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified (PTCLu), and intestinal T-cell lymphoma (ITCL). The study population consisted of 120 patients with a presenting diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Cases that had been previously confirmed as T-cell lymphoma at formal pathology review were identified from the lymphoma database of this institution. Staging investigations, treatment type and outcomes were taken from patient records. For each subtype, clinical characteristics, response to initial treatment, duration of response and any subsequent relapse were recorded. Overall, relapse, and progression-free survival figures were calculated. The ALCL group had the best response rate to first line treatment 19 of 22 (86 percent) while the AILD group had the lowest response 12 of 29 (41 percent). Relapse rates were PTCLu 13 of 35 (37 percent), ITCL 10 of 34 (29 percent), ALCL 6 of 22 (27 percent) and AILD 7 of 29 (24 percent). In terms of median overall survival, a significantly superior survival was demonstrated for the ALCL group (7.05 years) compared to the remaining three groups. The ALCL group had the lowest risk of death while the ITCL group had the highest risk (hazard ratio: 2.82). Five-year survival rates were estimated to be ALCL 60 percent, PTCLu 40 percent, AILD 30 percent and ITCL 25 percent. This single-centre study demonstrated different outcomes for each group with significant differences in overall survival rates. These findings support the clinical utility of the REAL lymphoma classification in respect to the PTCL subgroups included in this study.     

Rituximab monoclonal antibody as initial systemic therapy for patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Rituximab, a chimeric antibody that targets CD20(+) B cells, produces a 48% response rate in patients with refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this phase II trial, patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma who had previously received no systemic therapy were treated with rituximab, 375 mg/m(2), administered by IV infusion for 4 consecutive weeks. Patients with objective response or stable disease received repeat 4-week courses of rituximab at 6-month intervals. At the time of initial reevaluation at 6 weeks, 21 of 39 patients (54%) had objective response to treatment, and an additional 14 patients (36%) had stable disease or minor response. Response rates were similar in patients with follicular and small lymphocytic (CLL-type) lymphoma (52% versus 57%, respectively). At present, follow-up is short and only 13 patients have undergone a second course of rituximab treatment. However, 4 additional responses were documented either prior to the second course of rituximab (2 patients) or following the second course (2 patients) and 4 patients improved from partial to complete response. The current response rate is 64%, with 6 complete responses (15%). Treatment with rituximab was well tolerated, with only 1 patient experiencing grade 3/4 infusion-related toxicity. Rituximab is well tolerated and highly active in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma previously untreated with systemic therapy. Although further follow-up is required, the demonstration of minimal toxicity and considerable activity of this new biologic agent represents an important beginning of more specific, less toxic treatment for this important group of cancer patients.     

Arthritis and angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy.

We report 2 contrasting cases of a seronegative polyarthritis associated with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD). Both cases were nonerosive, with symmetrical involvement of the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. In one the arthritis appeared concurrently with the main systemic manifestations of AILD. The second presented with polyarthritis 18 months before the onset of AILD. This patient received azathioprine for 11 months before developing AILD, which raises the possibility of this drug being the causative agent.     

Clinical outcomes in low grade follicular lymphoma

Twenty-six patients with follicular small-cleaved lymphoma (FSCL) and 16 patients with follicular mixed lymphoma (FML) were treated at the Nichidai Itabashi Hospital between 1981 and 1995. The 5-year overall survival rate was 74.3% and 70.0% for the FSCL and FML patients, respectively. Of the patients with stage III-IV FSCL, 9 were assigned to a "watchful waiting" follow-up course and 13 were treated with a single alkylating agent or CHOP therapy. The 5-year failure-free survival rate was 66.7% and 33.0%, respectively. Of the patients with stage II-IV FML, 6 were treated with CHOP or MACOP-B protocol. The complete response rate for this group was only 33.3%, and none of the patients were in remission for more than 2 years. Histological transformation into diffuse aggressive lymphoma was observed in 7 patients, with the median time from diagnosis to transformation at 50 months. Three of those patients were successfully treated with intensive chemotherapy after transformation.     

不同类型自身免疫性肝病患者肝组织炎症因子表达的变化

目的 探讨不同类型自身免疫性肝病(AILD)患者肝组织炎症因子表达的变化。方法 2016年12月～2018年12月我院肝病科收治的AILD患者74例,其中自身免疫性肝炎(AIH)患者19例,原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)患者42例,自身免疫性肝炎/原发性胆汁性肝硬化重叠综合症(AIH/PBC OS)患者13例。采用免疫组化法检测肝穿组织白介素-12(IL-12)、IL-17和干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)表达情况。结果 AIH、PBC和AIH-PBC OS患者血清ALT水平分别为(132.5±12.5)U/L、(40.1±8.4)U/L和(166.2±16.3)U/L,AST水平分别为(120.3±11.7)U/L、(52.8±5.6)U/L和(194.7±18.3)U/L,差异显著(P<0.05);血清ALP水平分别为(98.0±9.2)U/L、(323.5±30.9)U/L和(257.1±24.1)U/L,血清GGT水平分别为(49.1±4.7)U/L、(236.8±22.6)U/L和(376.7±35.5)U/L,差异显著(P<0.05);AIH、PBC和AIH-PBC OS组患者肝组织IL-12表达阳性率无统计学差异(分别为15.8%、7.1%和15.4%,P>0.05),肝组织IL-17阳性表达率无统计学差异(分别为73.7%、76.2%和76.9%,P<0.05),肝组织IFN-γ阳性表达率无统计学差异(分别为68.4%、85.7%和76.9%,P<0.05);AIH患者血清抗肝肾微粒体I型抗体(LKM-1)、抗可溶性肝抗原/肝胰抗原抗体(SLA/LP)阳性率分别为21.1%和10.8%,均显著高于PBC组或AIH-PBC OS患者(分别为0.0%和0.0%,和0.0%和0.0%,P<0.05);PBC患者血清抗sp100抗体阳性率为19.0%,显著高于AIH组(0.0%)或AIH-PBC OS患者(7.7%,P<0.05);AIH-PBC OS组血清抗gp210抗体阳性率为38.5%,显著高于AIH组(0.0%,P<0.05),AIH-PBC OS组患者血清抗线粒体M2抗体(AMA-M2)阳性率为100.0%,显著高于AIH组(0.0%)或PBC组(73.8%,P<0.05);AIH患者血清ANA和SMA阳性率分别为94.7%和78.9%,显著高于PBC患者(分别为19.0%和19.0%,P<0.05)。结论 不同类型AILD患者血清自身抗体呈交叉阳性现象,肝组织炎性因子检测对鉴别诊断没有意义,常规肝功能指标仍对诊断起关键作用。     

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia. A pathogenetic link between lymphoid proliferation and malignant lymphoma.

Two patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) were studied. Both patients had marked increases in all three major immunoglobulin classes, and both lacked suppressor cell activity in vitro. These findings are consistent with the theory that AILD is a defectively regulated immune response to an unidentified antigen(s) and could provide clues to the pathogenesis of other lymphoproliferative disorders as well.     

Pure red cell aplasia associated with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) can best be described as a disorder of T-cells resulting in amplification of the B-cell response and clinical symptoms of lymphadenopathy, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and a variety of blood abnormalities. Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), an autoimmune disorder resulting in selective aplasia of the erythroid series, has only rarely been associated with AILD. Herein we report three cases of AILD and PRCA. Serum from one patient was available for study and contained a dose-dependent inhibitor of the CFU-E but not CFU-GM cultures from normal bone marrow. This activity was found in the globulin fraction after ammonium sulfate precipitation. Patients with AILD are known to make antibodies to many autologous epitopes, and the most well-characterized mechanism of PRCA involves antibodies to red cell precursors. Our serum data are consistent with the hypothesis that such an antibody existed in our patient. Aggressive treatment of these patients resulted in transient improvement in two; however, all three died without achieving a durable complete remission with two dying of infectious complications. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with paclitaxel: phase 2 trial using ninety-six-hour infusion. Collaborative Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Health Intervention Trials (CATCHIT) Group.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare, lethal disease with no effective systemic therapies. Preclinical studies demonstrated antineoplastic activity of paclitaxel. This prompted a prospective phase 2 clinical trial to determine activity of paclitaxel against anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in patients with persistent or metastatic disease despite surgery or local radiation therapy. Twenty patients, entered through 6 of 12 study sites, were treated with 96-hour continuous infusion paclitaxel every 3 weeks for 1 to 6 cycles; the first 7 patients received 120 mg/m2 per 96 hours and the rest received 140 mg/m2 per 96 hours. Total responses to therapy were assessed using modified criteria with response durability acceptable at 2 or more weeks, due to the exceedingly rapid growth rate of this tumor. Plasma samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic analyses. Off-protocol, data showed that 9 patients were later treated with 225 mg/m2 paclitaxel as weekly 1-hour infusions. Nineteen evaluable patients demonstrated a 53% total response rate (95% confidence interval, 29%-76%) with one complete response and nine partial responses (including one off protocol). Results of historical review off-protocol showed 2 of 7 patients, with prior partial responses to the 96-hour infusion, had subsequent partial responses to weekly treatment and 1 of 2 prior nonresponders gained a partial response to weekly therapy. No toxicities greater than grade 2 were seen with 96-hour infusions, while peripheral neuropathy (up to grade 3) was most common with postprotocol weekly infusions. Paclitaxel appears to be the only agent with significant clinical systemic activity against anaplastic thyroid carcinoma; however, it is not capable of altering the lethality of this malignancy, suggesting the need for additional therapeutic innovations. Decreased time intervals between paclitaxel infusions may be more efficacious.     

不明原因肝功能异常患者中自身免疫性肝病的临床分析

背景:自身免疫性肝病(AILD)起病隐匿,临床表现无特异性,早期诊断十分困难。目的:总结不明原因肝功能异常患者随访过程中AILD的诊断情况。方法:回顾性分析161例不明原因肝功能异常患者的临床随访结果,包括AILD相关自身抗体监测,部分患者经本人同意后行肝穿刺活检病理检查。结果:在6个月～6年的随访中,57例患者诊断为AILD,其中自身免疫性肝炎(AIH)28例,原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)21例,PBC-AIH重叠综合征8例。初次入院时,AILD患者临床表现与非AILD患者无明显差异,但无症状者所占比例较大;血生化指标中的GGT、ALP、球蛋白水平、免疫相关指标中的IgG、IgM水平均显著高于非AILD患者。AILD患者自身抗体ANA、AMA/AMA-M2、SMA阳性率显著高于非AILD患者,肝活检病理检查结果与相应疾病的组织病理学改变相符。结论:对于不明原因的反复肝功能异常患者,定期监测AILD相关自身抗体和肝活检病理有助于早期诊断、早期治疗AILD。     

Autoimmune liver disease - are there spectra that we do not know?

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) are common leading causes for liver cirrhosis and terminal stage of liver disease. They have variable prevalence among patients with liver disease and have two major clinical and biochemical presentations. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is the typical example of hepatocellular AILD, but it can also be presented under a cholestatic pattern. AIH has a scoring diagnostic system and respond in most cases to the treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the second most common AILD, with a cholestatic presentation and characterized by positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA). It has an excellent response and long term outcome with the administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Another AILD that is thought to be a variant of PBC is the autoimmune cholangitis, being a disease that has biochemical and histological features similar to PBC; but the AMA is negative. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare entity of AILD that has a cholestatic presentation and respond poorly to the treatment, with the ultimate progression to advance liver cirrhosis in most patients. Other forms of AILD include the overlap syndromes (OS), which are diseases with mixed immunological and histological patterns of two AILD; the most commonly recognized one is AIH-PBC overlap (AIH-PSC overlap is less common). The treatment of OS involves the trial of UDCA and different immunosuppressants. Here we present three case reports of unusual forms of chronic liver diseases that most likely represent AILD. The first two patients had a cholestatic picture, whereas the third one had a hepatocellular picture at presentation. We discussed their biochemical, immunological and histological features as well as their response to treatment and their outcomes. Then, we compared them with other forms of AILD.     

Treatment of hairy cell leukemia with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA): long-term follow-up of the Northwestern University experience

2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA), a purine analog, has become universally accepted as the agent of choice in treating hairy cell leukemia (HCL). However, few studies have reported long-term outcomes after 2-CdA treatment. Between January 1990 and June 2003, 86 consecutive patients with HCL were treated with a single 7-day course of 2-CdA by continuous infusion at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg per day. Of the 86 patients (mean age: 49 years), 67 patients (79%) achieved a complete remission (CR); 18 patients (21%) achieved a partial remission (PR); and 1 patient's response was unable to be assessed. The progression-free survival (PFS) for initial relapse after 12 years was 54%. At a median follow-up of 9.7 years (range, 0.3-13.8 years), 31 (36%) of 85 patients relapsed. There were 23 relapsed patients treated with a second cycle of 2-CdA; 2 patients were treated with alternative agents; and 6 patients were observed. Of the 23 relapsed patients retreated with 2-CdA, 12 (52%) achieved a CR and 7 (30%) patients achieved a PR (overall response rate: 83%). The overall survival (OS) rate after 12 years was 87%. There were 15 patients (17%) who developed other malignancies. Long-term follow-up of up to 14 years (median: 9.7 years) showed an excellent PFS and OS for HCL patients after 2-CdA treatment.     

Randomized comparison of tamoxifen versus diethylstilbestrol in estrogen receptor-positive or -unknown metastatic breast cancer: a Southeastern Cancer Study Group trial

In a randomized study 115 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who were estrogen receptor-unknown or -positive were treated initially with tamoxifen or diethylstilbestrol (DES). Their pretreatment characteristics showed no significant difference. The frequency of response was identical with tamoxifen and DES, showing a complete response rate of 2% versus 2% and a partial response rate of 4% versus 8%, respectively; stable disease was present in 78% versus 73% of the patients, respectively. The median time to disease progression (5 vs 6 months) and median survival depending on initial hormone therapy (34 vs 35 months) were identical for tamoxifen and DES, respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicity was more frequent and more severe with DES than tamoxifen. Responses were seen with withdrawal of each agent and on crossover to the alternative agent. Our conclusions are that: DES and tamoxifen are equally effective in treating metastatic breast cancer in the postmenopausal patient who is estrogen receptor-positive or -unknown; withdrawal and crossover responses are seen with both agents; side effects are minimal but more frequent with DES; and on the basis of cost-effectiveness DES is the preferable agent.     

Phase II trial of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma [see comments]

We investigated the efficacy of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) therapy in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and the Sezary syndrome (SS). Between February 1991 and November 1993, 21 patients with relapsed or refractory MF/SS were treated with 2-CdA. 2-CdA was administered by continuous intravenous infusion at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d for 7 days initially (13 patients), but was subsequently reduced to 5 days (nine patients) due to hematologic toxicity. All patients had failed to respond to at least one prior treatment for MF/SS (median number of total prior therapies, five; median number of systemic prior therapies, three) and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of two or better. Cycles were administered at 28-day intervals. Assessable patients received at least 5 days of 2-CdA. Fourteen patients received more than one cycle of 2-CdA. An overall response rate of 28% was achieved. Three patients (14%) had a complete response with a median duration of 4.5 months (range, 2.5 to 16). Three (14%) had a partial response with a median duration of 2 months (range, 2 to 4). Fifteen patients (72%) had no response. The most significant toxicities encountered were bone marrow suppression (62% of patients) and infectious complications (62% of patients). Thirty-eight percent of patients experienced no toxicity from 2-CdA. 2-CdA has activity as a single agent in patients with previously treated relapsed MF/SS. Studies in less heavily pretreated individuals with 2-CdA alone or in combination will be undertaken.     

Phase II evaluation of vindesine in patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Fifty-two patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated iv with doses of vindesine at 3--4 mg/m2/week iv. Partial responses occurred in all histologic types in ten of 46 adequately treated patients, for an overall response rate of 22%. Patients not previously treated with chemotherapy had a higher response rate than those who had received prior chemotherapy (33% versus 12%). Reversible peripheral neuropathy occurred in all patients, and was generally of a mild to moderate degree. Mild leukopenia was seen frequently, with a median wbc nadir of 2900/mm3. As reported with the older vinca alkaloids, platelet-sparing with occasional episodes of thrombocytosis occurred with vindesine. It is concluded that vindesine is an active agent in non-small cell carcinoma of the lung and that further studies in previously untreated patients are indicated.     

Pediatric autoimmune liver disease and extra-hepatic immune-mediated comorbidities

Background

Autoimmune liver disease (AILD) includes autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC). AILD is often associated with other extra-hepatic immune-mediated disorders (EDs), but there are few pediatric studies available to date. In this study we evaluated the association between AILD and EDs in our pediatric series.

Treatment of severe aplastic anaemia with combined immunosuppression: anti-thymocyte globulin, ciclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil

Severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) can be successfully treated with immunosuppressive therapies or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Response rates with horse anti-thymocyte globulin (h-ATG) plus ciclosporin (CsA) are about 60-70%, and robust responders have an excellent long-term survival. We introduced a third immunosuppressive agent to standard h-ATG/CsA, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in an attempt to improve the response rate and survival, and to decrease the relapse rate and clonal evolution to myelodysplasia. A total of 104 consecutive patients with SAA were treated with h-ATG/CsA/MMF between May 1999 and June 2003 at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. The overall response rate at 6 months was 62%, with 24 (37% of responders) patients relapsing at a median of 389 d from ATG. Nine patients showed evidence of clonal evolution following ATG. After a median follow up of 42 months, the median survival among responders was not reached and among non-responders was 58 months. Over half of the relapses occurred during MMF administration. Despite a strong theoretical rationale for its use, MMF did not result in the improvement of response or relapse rates when compared with historical standard h-ATG/CsA.     

Efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alpha in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to estimate the efficacy of darbepoetin alpha (DA) for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)‐related anaemia. Eligible studies were prospective, interventional, and reported World Health Organization, French‐American‐British, or International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) criteria. Outcomes included erythroid response rate (primary); haemoglobin response; change in haemoglobin, transfusion status, and quality‐of‐life (QoL); and safety. Ten studies (N = 647) were analysed. Erythroid response rate range was 38–72%; median response duration range was 12–51+ months. Patients with erythropoietin (EPO) <100 iu/l had 35% [95% confidence interval (CI): 22–48%; P < 0·001) better response than patients with EPO >100 iu/l. Erythropoesis‐stimulating agent (ESA)‐naïve patients had 17% (95% CI: 3–32%; P = 0·022) greater response rate than those previously treated with ESA. Nonetheless, previously treated patients had response rates of 25–75%. Higher baseline haemoglobin levels, higher dose, transfusion‐independence and low‐risk IPSS status were reported by several studies to be associated with better response. QoL, transfusion rates and haemoglobin levels improved with treatment. Hypertension, thromboembolism and progression to acute myeloid leukaemia were reported in 2%, 1% and 1% of patients, respectively. This meta‐analysis suggests that DA treatment can be useful for improving erythroid response in MDS patients with anaemia, even among patients previously treated with ESA.