title: Successful treatment of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia with monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody.
abstract: We report a patient with B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) who was treated successfully with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab). The patient had recurrent infections due to relative neutropenia, secondary to bone marrow infiltration. After treatment with monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab) 375 mg/m(2) weekly for 4 weeks, complete remission was obtained. It was documented by normalization of peripheral blood counts, disappearance of organomegaly, and by molecular cytogenetics-fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on bone marrow cells. She remains in complete remission 8 months following the discontinuation of treatment. This is the second reported case of successful treatment of B-cell PLL with rituximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Box 113-6044, 1107 2802, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Yasser Abou
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.forename: Aref
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chehal
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamseddine
mesh_terms: D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D015463:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20