Alemtuzumab induced complete remission of therapy-resistant pure red cell aplasia

Leuk Res. 2005 Oct;29(10):1213-5. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2005.02.018. Epub 2005 Apr 25.

Abstract

Two patients with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) refractory to anti-thymocyte globulin, prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, mitoxantrone, dexamethasone and cyclosporine, were treated with alemtuzumab (anti-CD52 antibody). Case 1, a 35-year-old man with idiopathic PRCA, remitted completely with 130 mg of alemtuzumab. Case 2, a 42-year-old man with PRCA due to T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukaemia, achieved complete remission of the PRCA with 490 mg of alemtuzumab, although the T-LGL leukaemia responded only transiently. There were no significant side effects, and normalization of erythropoiesis was durable. Alemtuzumab is active in PRCA that is idiopathic or secondary to T-cell lymphoproliferative diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / therapeutic use*
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / complications
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / complications
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / drug therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Vidarabine / administration & dosage
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cyclosporine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisolone
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine