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First report of a B cell lymphoproliferative disorder arising in a patient treated with immune suppressants for severe aplastic anemia
Author(s) -
Dorr Vicki,
Doolittle Gary,
Woodroof Janet
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8652(199606)52:2<108::aid-ajh7>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - aplastic anemia , medicine , pancytopenia , immunosuppression , lymphoproliferative disorders , prednisone , anemia , bone marrow , bone marrow failure , immunology , transplantation , gastroenterology , haematopoiesis , stem cell , lymphoma , biology , genetics
Aplastic anemia is a disorder characterized by pancytopenia and bone marrow hypocellularity. There is some evidence that aplastic anemia may be due to suppression of hematopoiesis by activated T‐suppressor cells. Thus, immunosuppressive agents have been used as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation for treatment. We report on a unique case of a patient with aplastic anemia who was treated with a course of immunosuppression including cyclosporine (CSA), anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG), and prednisone. Five months after this treatment, the patient developed a B cell lymphoproliferative disorder which was successfully treated with radiation therapy. Prior reports of CSA‐associated lymphoproliferative disorders have appeared in the literature as potential side effects of immunosuppression following transplantation. This is the first report of a lymphoproliferative disorder associated with immunosuppressive treatment of aplastic anemia in a nontransplant setting. Thus, when presenting options for treatment of aplastic anemia, lymphoproliferative disorders should be included as a rare complication of immunosuppressive therapy. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.