title: Complete remission of multiple myeloma after autoimmune hemolytic anemia: possible association with interferon-alpha.
abstract: A patient with multiple myeloma (MM) was being maintained on human recombinant interferon-alpha (INF-alpha) after VAD and autologous bone marrow transplantation (pretreated with melphalan). An episode of immune thrombocytopenia and (Coombs positive) autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) was noted while on maintenance INF-alpha, which remitted when it was withdrawn. Following this event, he achieved a state of stable disease that persists (more than 3 years) with no specific myeloma treatment. This sequence of events suggests a relationship between an immunological reaction induced by INF-alpha and the prolonged phase of stable disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology Research Center, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. gesund@hadassah.org.il
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gesundheit
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zelig
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Aliza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ackerstein
authors.forename: Meytal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avgil
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Or
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins