pediatric patient / parent

Amer Zeidan, MBBS

Institution
Yale University and Yale Cancer Center
Physician Status
accepting new patients
Primary Disease Area of Focus
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Aplastic Anemia
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN)
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
About
Amer Zeidan’s primary research interest is in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and was mentored in this research area by Dr. Steven Gore and Dr. B Douglas Smith at Johns Hopkins University where he has completed a clinical hematology/oncology fellowship and a clinical research fellowship in myelodysplastic syndromes. He also earned a Master of Health Science (MHS) degree in Clinical Investigation at Johns Hopkins before recently moving to Yale University as an Assistant Professor of Medicine to reunite with Dr. Steven Gore and continue his MDS research. Dr. Zeidan has two major areas of

Agent Orange, United States Military Veterans, and Myelodysplastic Syndromes

This article was originally published in the MDS Beacon by David Steensma, MD, FACP.  Dr. Steensma is a physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His primary area of research focuses on myelodysplastic syndromes and related conditions.  Dr. Steensma also serves as a member of the AA&MDSIF Medical Advisory Board.

How do I get my medical records from a doctor?

If you want a copy of your medical records, you  must submit a written request to the hospital or the doctor's office. The law requires that patients provide doctors with written authorization to disclose medical records or the information contained in them. Some hospitals have their own form that needs to be completed. Patients may receive copies of their medical records, however the originals must remain in the physician's or hospital's file.  Please consult with your physician's office for access to digital records.

How do I decide between antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and bone marrow transplant for treatment of aplastic anemia?

This is an individual decision and should be discussed in detail with your doctor and the medical team that would be involved in either treatment approach. They can help you understand your specific risks and potential benefits of these options.

The main goal of aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… treatment is to increase the number of healthy cells in your blood so you will feel better, no longer need transfusions and have improved quality of life.

Immunosuppressive therapy: Immunosuppressive drug therapy lowers your body's immune response. This prevents your immune system from attacking your bone marrow, allowing bone marrow stem cells to grow, which raises blood counts. For older patients with acquired aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive drug therapy is the… using ATG and cyclosporine: Cyclosporine is used along with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia and some other forms of bone marrow failure. works by preventing your immune system from attacking your bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. , letting your stem cells: Cells in the body that develop into other cells. There are two main sources of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos and are used in medical research. Adult stem cells in the body repair and maintain the organ or tissue in which they are found. Blood-forming (hemapoietic) stem… grow back and raising your blood count. This is a standard treatment for older patients or those without a stem cell donor.

Stem cell transplantation involves putting blood-forming stem cells from a healthy donor into your bloodstream. These cells travel to your bone marrow and start making healthy cells. This is a standard treatment for younger patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and other bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… diseases if a donor is not available.

How long can I stay on cyclosporine?

Cyclosporine: Cyclosporine is used along with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia and some other forms of bone marrow failure. is an immunosuppressive drug that works by preventing T-lymphocytes from becoming active. Once the T-lymphocytes are turned off, they stop attacking stem cells: Cells in the body that develop into other cells. There are two main sources of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos and are used in medical research. Adult stem cells in the body repair and maintain the organ or tissue in which they are found. Blood-forming (hemapoietic) stem… in the bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. . That means stem cells may be able to grow back. It is used along with antithymocyte globulin: ATG is an immunosuppressant, a drug that lowers the body's immune response. It is typically used with cyclosporine as the first-line immunosuppressive therapy (IS) to treat patients with acquired aplastic anemia. In some cases it is used as a treatment for patients with MDS and PNH. (ATG) as a standard treatment for aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… , and may also be used to treat MDS and PNH.

Some aplastic anemia patients may require prolonged ongoing treatment with cyclosporine to prevent or minimize the risk of disease relapse aplastic anemia coming back. Generally speaking, patients can remain on cyclosporine indefinitely, as long as there is evidence that the drug is providing some benefit and there are no unwanted or adverse side effects.

For patients who respond well to cyclosporine, alone or in combination with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), hematologists may reduce the cyclosporine dosage. Tapering, or reducing, the dosage is done slowly over a long period of time. If low blood counts and disease symptoms return, your doctor may increase or restart cyclosporine. For those who experience bad side effects such as kidney toxicity, the drug must be discontinued.

What are the side effects of cyclosporine?

Cyclosporine: Cyclosporine is used along with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia and some other forms of bone marrow failure. is a drug that lowers your body's immune response. Cyclosporine is used along with antithymocyte globulin: ATG is an immunosuppressant, a drug that lowers the body's immune response. It is typically used with cyclosporine as the first-line immunosuppressive therapy (IS) to treat patients with acquired aplastic anemia. In some cases it is used as a treatment for patients with MDS and PNH. (ATG), another immunosuppressant, for treating aplastic anemia: (ay-PLASS-tik uh-NEE_mee-uh) A rare and serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The term aplastic is a Greek word meaning not to form. Anemia is a condition that happens when red blood cell count is low. Most… and some other bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… diseases. If you are taking cyclosporine as part of your treatment regimen, your doctor should monitor you for side effects. Cyclosporine may cause high blood pressure, kidney damage, loss of magnesium or potassium, liver inflammation, increased hair growth and gum swelling.

These problems can usually be fixed. Your doctor might prescribe medicine to lower your blood pressure and to replace magnesium or potassium.

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