A case report of refractory warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia treated with plasmapheresis and rituximab.

Abstract

A 30-year-old male presented with severe, warm autoimmune hemolysis 17 months subsequent to a matched, unrelated peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The patient responded poorly to conventional therapy with steroids and immunoglobulin, prompting the initiation of rituximab. On account of persistent, severe hemolysis, therapeutic plasma exchange was employed as a bridge until the rituximab therapy became effective. Immediately following plasmapheresis, the patient demonstrated clinical improvement followed by attenuation of the hemolysis and improved reticulocytosis. The hemoglobin concentration and reticulocyte index demonstrated further improvement following subsequent doses of rituximab and continued following the cessation of plasmapheresis. This case suggests the utility of plasmapheresis and rituximab in severe, life-threatening cases of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia refractory to conventional therapy.

• Authors: Fabio Aglieco, Srimathi Manickaratnam, Robert Bona, Andre A Kaplan
• Journal: Therapeutic apheresis and dialysis : official peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (Ther Apher Dial) Vol. 12 Issue 2 Pg. 185-9 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1744-9987 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 18387171 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Immunologic Factors
• Rituximab

Topics

• Adult
• Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune (etiology, therapy)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Plasmapheresis
• Reticulocytosis
• Rituximab
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome