Successful treatment of thymoma-associated pure red cell aplasia with intravenous immunoglobulins.
Repeated cycles of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have been reported to be successful in a few patients with idiopathic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) or associated with another pathology. The efficacy of this treatment for PRCA with thymoma has not been reported previously. We describe here the case of a 75-yr-old man who presented with PRCA associated with a benign thymoma. After failure of thymectomy, corticosteroids and octreotide, a complete durable remission was obtained after a single 5-d cycle of IVIG.
Larroche
C
C
Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France. claire.larroche@wanadoo.fr
Mouthon
L
L
Casadevall
N
N
Le Roux
G
G
Casassus
P
P
Guillevin
L
L
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015282:Octreotide