title: Pact with the devil: alemtuzumab therapy, immune suppression and infectious complications in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Infectious complications are an important cause of hospitalization in patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The pathogenesis of infection is complex, involving both disease-induced and treatment-related immune depression. During the last decade, the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been redefined by the approval of monoclonal antibody-based treatment, which resulted in improved therapeutic responses. Nonetheless, the profound lymphopenia induced by monoclonal agents was accompanied by increased incidence of infections caused by a new spectrum of opportunistic microorganisms. We report the case of a patient with hypercellular CLL who received Alemtuzumab as first line therapy and obtained a satisfactory therapeutic response, but developed subsequent atypical infectious complications.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antohe
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dascalescu
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burcoveanu
authors.forename: Doramina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghiorghiu
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dascalu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danaila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013156:Splenectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D014400:Tuberculosis, Splenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab