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Journal of Medical Case Reports
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Case report

Successful long-term monotherapy with rituximab in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage: a case report

Authors: Isrid Sturm, Joachim Oertel, Stephan Oertel, Jörg Westermann, Antonio Pezzutto

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Introduction

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage is strongly based upon clinical staging because of the heterogeneous clinical course of this disease.

Case presentation

We describe a 62-year-old patient with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage who did not respond to several chemotherapy regimens including chlorambucil, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, developing a marked neutropenia and thrombocytopenia with life-threatening infections. Further chemotherapy appeared not feasible because of bone marrow toxicity. The patient was treated with 600 mg/m2 rituximab weekly followed by eight courses of biweekly therapy and then by long-term maintenance therapy, achieving almost complete remission of the symptoms and disease control.

Conclusion

After resistance to standard chemotherapy with chlorambucil and fludarabine, a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage was successfully treated with rituximab.
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Metadata
Title
Successful long-term monotherapy with rituximab in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage: a case report
Authors
Isrid Sturm
Joachim Oertel
Stephan Oertel
Jörg Westermann
Antonio Pezzutto
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-2-275

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