Author/Editor     Glaser, Marjana; Glaser, Andrej; Skalicky, Marjan
Title     Long lasting remission by rituximab in a patient with primary cold agglutinin autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Type     članek
Source     Wien Klin Wochenschr
Vol. and No.     Letnik 123, št. 21/22
Publication year     2011
Volume     str. 680-3
Language     eng
Abstract     A 76-year-old female patient with cold agglutinin autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (CAHA) is presented. The haemolysis worsened during infection. Earlier, the patient underwent an unsuccessful treatment with steroids, chlorambucil , folic acid and heated erythrocyte transfusion. We treated her with monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab (RTX) weekly for four consecutive weeks. After three cycles, the signs of haemolysis slowly disappeared and haemoglobin completely normalized. We continued with the maintenance treatment with RTX every third month for 2 years. The patient is in complete remission. This case report emphasizes the importance of the use of RTX as a therapy for immune cytopenia. Patients with CAHA usually fail to respond to standard treatment. Since CAHA is a very rare condition, only some case reports and 2 studies reported on the positive effects of RTX. Although expensive, RTX has many advantages, such as quick and long-term efficiency and only a few side effects.
Descriptors     ANEMIA, HEMOLYTIC, AUTOIMMUNE
LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS