title: High-dose cyclophosphamide for refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
abstract: High-dose cyclophosphamide, without stem cell rescue, has been used successfully to treat aplastic anemia and other autoimmune disorders. To determine the safety and efficacy of high-dose cyclophosphamide among patients with severe refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia, we treated 9 patients with cyclophosphamide (50 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) for 4 days) who had failed a median of 3 (range, 1-7) other treatments. The median hemoglobin before treatment was 6.7 g/dL (range, 5-10 g/dL). The median time to reach an absolute neutrophil count of 500/microL or greater was 16 days (range, 12-18 days). Six patients achieved complete remission (normal untransfused hemoglobin for age and sex), and none have relapsed after a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 4-29 months). Three patients achieved and continue in partial remission (hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL without transfusion support). High-dose cyclophosphamide was well tolerated and induced durable remissions in patients with severe refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
authors.affiliation: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Moyo
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Isadore
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crilley
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brodsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide