Mesalazine-Associated Severe Aplastic Anemia Successfully Treated With Antithymocyte Globulin, Cyclosporine And Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

A 20-year-old male with ulcerative colitis complicated by mesalazine-associated severe aplastic anemia is described. The patient developed aplastic anemia four months after the start of mesalazine therapy. He was treated with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and responded well. Hematological complications of mesalazine are rare, but if bone marrow suppression is detected, immediate cessation of the drug and intensive immunosuppressive treatment with G-CSF should be considered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.