title: Low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab is a safe and effective treatment for chronic acquired pure red cell aplasia.
abstract: Three patients with pure red cell aplasia, with or without co-existing large granular lymphocytic leukaemia, who remained transfusion-dependent despite treatment with established first-line therapy, were treated with low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab 15 mg twice to thrice per week, for 3 to 4 weeks. The mean response time was 17 days compared with a response time of at least 61 days on standard first-line therapy. There were no serious side-effects and the mean duration of remission was 13 months. Low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab is a safe and effective treatment for pure red cell aplasia and further trials should be conducted to compare the long-term effectiveness of this treatment with conventional therapy.
authors: Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jason K W
authors: JK
authors: Chow
authors: T K
authors: TK
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000074323:Alemtuzumab
keywords: Immunosuppressive agents; Leukemia, large granular lymphocytic; Red-cell aplasia, pure