Treatment response criteria
thalassemia, anemia
THALASSEMIA, BLOOD, SYNDROMES, ANEMIA
Definitive response to thalidomide intervention was evaluated at 6th month of therapy employing the following criteria: Excellent Response (ExR): maintenance of Hb level ≥ 9 g/dL without blood transfusion in last ≥ 56 days, good response (GR): maintenance of Hb level in the range of 7–8.9 g/dL without blood transfusion in last ≥ 56 days, and partial response (PR): maintenance of Hb level in the range of 6–6.9 g/dL without blood transfusion in last ≥ 56 days. Whereas, no response (NR): maintenance of Hb level < 6 g/dL. Blood transfusion was administered, if at any stage Hb level dropped below 6 g/dL. Among the non-responders, thalidomide was discontinued after 6 months of treatment, and were continued on blood transfusion therapy. In this study, Hb level of 6 g/dL as the cutoff was based on the understanding that a robust erythropoietic drive is crucial for achieving the best possible response, for which anemia serves as a natural stimulus. Besides, studies also suggests 6 g/dL as the minimum tolerable Hb level in thalassemia syndromes