Efficacy and safety of rituximab in adults' warm antibody autoimmune haemolytic anemia: retrospective analysis of 27 cases

Am J Hematol. 2009 Mar;84(3):153-7. doi: 10.1002/ajh.21341.

Abstract

To better assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab in adults' warm antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA), we conducted a retrospective study including 27 adults (mean age 49.7 +/- 21 years) with either primary (n = 17) or secondary (n = 10) wAIHA. On average, the patients received 2.1 +/- 1.4 treatment lines before rituximab and six had undergone splenectomy. Five patients were resistant to corticosteroids, 16 had a corticosteroid-dependent wAIHA and six had relapsed after an initial remission. Overall, 25/27 (93%) patients achieved an initial response from rituximab (eight complete responses and 17 partial responses). During a mean follow-up of 20.9 months after rituximab, five of the responders relapsed, three of whom were successfully retreated with rituximab. Two mild infusion-related-reactions occurred, one patient had a rituximab-related severe neutropenia and one case of pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia occurred in a severely immunocompromized patient. In conclusion, rituximab seems highly effective and relatively safe in adults with steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent wAIHA.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / drug therapy*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rituximab
  • Young Adult

Substances

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