Analysis of parameters that may affect efficacy
Dosage and efficacy
The dosage for deferent response types at the first month, the third month and the sixth month were compared separately (as shown inTable 3 ). The median dosage from the beginning to the third month was 2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1. Dosage was adjusted at the third month visit according the first month and third month response evaluation or adverse events. The median dosage from the third month to the sixth month was 3.6 mg·kg-1·d-1. When the response rate at the sixth month evaluation was compared with the third month evaluation, there were 6 patients accepted previous dosage, 32 accepted higher dosage and 7 accepted lower dosage among those whose response was improved. However, there were 6 patients accepted previous dosage, 20 accepted higher dosage and 6 accepted lower dosage among those whose response was not improved. The proportionfor improvement in response with higher dose (32/45) and the proportion for no response improvement with higher dose (20/32) were not significantly different (p=0.715 ).
Other parameters and efficacy
Other parameters, including age, sex, genotype category, transfusion interval before thalidomide treatment, were further analyzed for the differences in response (as shown in Table 3 ). The baseline HbF concentration, HbF at the third month of treatment, HbF at the sixth month of treatment were significantly higher in group major response than the other two groups, while the differences between minor response group and no response group were not significant (as shown inFigure 2 ).