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Fludarabine‐related autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Author(s) -
Myint H.,
Copplestone J. A.,
Orchard J.,
Craig V.,
Curtis D.,
Prentice A. G.,
Hamon M. D.,
Oscier D. G.,
Hamblin T. J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1995.tb05300.x
Subject(s) - fludarabine , haemolysis , medicine , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , immunology , chlorambucil , exacerbation , autoimmune hemolytic anemia , chemotherapy , leukemia , cyclophosphamide , antibody
Summary. We have treated 52 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with fludarabine; 12 developed severe autoimmune haemolysis. Only three had a previous history of haemolytic anaemia. Six out of eight patients retreated with fludarabine after control of their haemolysis developed an exacerbation of the haemolytic anaemia. The cause of autoimmune phenomena in CLL is not known, but our findings reinforce the view that they are caused by a disturbance in immunoregulatory T cells. Fludarabine is a known suppressor of T‐cell function.