Published in:
01-02-2004 | Case Report
Successful treatment with rituximab for autoimmune hemolytic anemia concomitant with proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus and monoclonal gammopathy in a post-nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant patient
Published in: Annals of Hematology | Issue 2/2004
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A 30-year-old Japanese woman who underwent nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation from her HLA-matched sister developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). There was proliferation of EBV-DNA in her peripheral blood and monoclonal gammopathy, both predictive factors of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). As conventional immunosuppressive therapy for AIHA could lead to overt PTLD, we decided to give her rituximab 375 mg/m2 once weekly for a total of four doses. After this therapy, both her AIHA and monoclonal gammopathy were resolved and EBV-DNA became undetectable. Rituximab therapy deserves consideration for treatment of post-allogeneic stem cell transplant patients with AIHA, especially for patients who cannot be given immunosuppressive therapy.