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 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 using ATG and cyclosporine works by preventing your immune system from attacking your bone marrow, letting your stem cells 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 diseases if a donor is not available.