Life saving cyclophosphamide treatment in a girl with giant cell hepatitis and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: case report and up-to-date on therapeutical options.
We report the case of a girl affected by giant cell hepatitis associated with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Both conditions were severe with a number of life-threatening episodes of liver failure and anaemia unresponsive to several immunosuppressant drugs but cyclophosphamide. After a low-dose long-term treatment with this drug the patient is stably well without any therapy. A review of therapeutical options in this condition is also presented.
Vajro
P
P
Department of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. vajro@unina.it
Migliaro
F
F
Ruggeri
C
C
Di Cosmo
N
N
Crispino
G
G
Caropreso
M
M
Vecchione
R
R
D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone