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The successful treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia with rituximab in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Author(s) -
Pamuk Gülsüm Emel,
Turgut Burhan,
Demir Muzaffer,
Tezcan Fatma,
Vural Özden
Publication year - 2006
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/ajh.20671
Subject(s) - rituximab , autoimmune hemolytic anemia , medicine , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , cd20 , hemolytic anemia , anemia , immunology , leukemia , hemolysis , monoclonal , gastroenterology , monoclonal antibody , antibody
The most frequent autoimmune complication in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). There are various treatment modalities; however, there is not much experience with the use of the chimeric anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in the autoimmune complications of CLL. Here, we present our patient with CLL and AIHA whose AIHA was unresponsive to various treatment modalities. The administration of 375mg/m 2 /day rituximab weekly for four cycles halted hemolysis and resulted in resolution of the patient's anemia. One year after therapy, the patient is well with a normal blood count. Rituximab might be preferred over other treatment modalities in the autoimmune complications of CLL because it is effective and has fewer side effects than other therapies. Am. J. Hematol. 81:631–633, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.