Alemtuzumab induced complete remission of autoimmune hemolytic anemia refractory to corticosteroids, splenectomy and rituximab

Haematologica. 2006 May;91(5 Suppl):ECR13.

Abstract

A 58-year-old man with warm-antibody-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) refractory to prednisolone, azathioprine, splenectomy, rituximab and combination chemotherapy, and with unacceptably high transfusion requirement, was treated with alemtuzumab. After a cumulative dose of 883 mg of alemtuzumab, the AIHA remitted completely, with normalization of hemoglobin and transfusion-independence. The major side effect was reactivation of cytomegalovirus, which was controlled with intravenous and oral ganciclovir. This case showed that alemtuzumab might be of use in therapy-refractory AIHA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alemtuzumab
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / complications
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / drug therapy*
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / surgery
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / therapy
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Blood Transfusion
  • CD52 Antigen
  • Cytomegalovirus / drug effects
  • Cytomegalovirus / physiology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / complications
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Drug Resistance
  • Ganciclovir / analogs & derivatives
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Remission Induction
  • Rituximab
  • Splenectomy
  • Valganciclovir
  • Viremia / complications
  • Viremia / drug therapy
  • Virus Activation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antiviral Agents
  • CD52 Antigen
  • CD52 protein, human
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Rituximab
  • Prednisolone
  • Valganciclovir
  • Azathioprine
  • Ganciclovir