A combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone effectively treats immune cytopenias of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are known complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Rituximab, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (RCD) effectively target lymphocytes and inhibit autoimmune processes. We reviewed 21 patients with CLL treated for AIHA alone (n = 18), ITP alone (n = 1) or both (n = 2) with the following RCD regimen: rituximab 375 mg/m² i.v. infusion given on day 1, cyclophosphamide 750–1000 mg/m² i.v. on day 2 and dexamethasone 12 mg day 1–7 given every 3 weeks. Response to treatment was seen in all 20 patients with CLL with AIHA. Median hemoglobin pre-treatment was 8 g/dL. The median change in hemoglobin was 5.2 g/dL and the median post-treatment hemoglobin level was noted to be 13.1 g/dL. Median duration of response was 22 months. Nine relapsed patients responded as well. Fifty percent of evaluable patients converted to Coombs negative with median duration of response of 41 months vs. 10 months for those who did not convert. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.0674). Steroid-refractory immune thrombocytopenia was present in three patients and all responded to RCD. There were no hospitalisations or infections directly related to RCD. RCD is a safe and effective regimen in the treatment of immune cytopenias associated with CLL.

Keywords:

• Autoimmunity: responses to self antigen
• antibody-based immunotherapy
• lymphoid leukemia
• erythrocytes
• immunotherapeutic approaches

Notes

There is an accompanying commentary that discusses this paper. Please refer to the issue Table of Contents.