title: Pure red cell aplasia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Pure red cell aplasia is a rare condition described in patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Bone marrow examination of a 52-year-old female showed selective severe hypoplasia, scarce hematopoietic reserves, and no abnormality in other cell lineages, which are findings compatible with red cell aplasia. This condition has not responded to corticosteroids, cytotoxic drugs or intravenous immunoglobulin. After therapy with high doses of glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and immunoglobulin failed, she was treated with human recombinant erythropoietin, monthly pulses of methylprednisolone, and cyclophosphamide, simultaneously. Data on treatment with erythropoietin for pure red cell aplasia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus is limited, but it appears to be reasonable to try in refractory cases.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Medicina Tropical do Pará
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Pará
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSUCHM).
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Pará
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012010:Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / Q000209:etiology*