title: Successful treatment of pure red cell aplasia with repeated, low doses of rituximab in two patients after ABO-incompatible allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: We describe two patients with acute myeloid leukemia successfully treated with anti-CD20 antibody for pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following ABO-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). PRCA following HSCT is associated with major ABO incompatibility between donor and recipient and is due to an inhibition of donor erythroid precursors by residual host isoagglutinins. The first patient developed PRCA resistant to several treatment options including donor-derived leukocyte infusions (DLI), high-dose erythropoietin (EPO), and rapid tapering of cyclosporin A (CsA). This patient also received anti-viral therapy as CMV and parvovirus B19 infections were regarded as additional causes of PRCA. Due to a loss of donor chimerism, he underwent second HSCT, but PRCA still persisted. He showed no evidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Finally he was administered anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab) at a dose of 150/m2 and PRCA resolved in a short period of time. The case was complicated by life-threatening pulmonary aspergillosis with septic shock, successfully treated with anti-fungal therapy. The second case concerns a patient, who revealed PRCA after major ABO-incompatible HSCT from his brother. Considering our experience with the previously described patient, he proceeded to rituximab at a dose of 150/m2 as first line treatment. We observed rapid recovery from PRCA without any side effects. We conclude that rituximab seems to be a promising therapeutic option in patients with PRCA after ABO-mismatched HSCT, in whom conventional treatment fails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and BMT, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland. ghelbig@tlen.pl
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Helbig
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stella-Holowiecka
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawczyk-Kulis
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojnar
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markiewicz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojciechowska-Sadus
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopera
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kruzel
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Najda
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holowiecki
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000209:etiology; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007948:Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000069283:Rituximab; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab