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 ).