Med Oncol. 2006;23(1):137-40.

Alemtuzumab therapy for severe autoimmune hemolysis in a patient with
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Lundin J, Karlsson C, Celsing F.

Departments of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska University
Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common cause
of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and a subgroup of these
patients who develop both these conditions fail to respond to
corticosteroids, cytotoxic drugs, splenectomy, and iv
immunoglobulins.

Alemtuzumab is a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody that is an
effective therapy for B-CLL, mycosis fungoides, and T-cell
prolymphocytic leukemia.

Here we present a case report of a 78-yr-old woman with B-CLL and
progressive life-threatening AIHA with hemoglobin count 5.5 g/dL
following fludarabine treatment, who was treated successfully with
alemtuzumab. The anemia was completely reversed and hemoglobin count
remains at 14 g/dL after 15 mo of unmaintained follow-up. No
infectious complications were noted during or after alemtuzumab
therapy.

We conclude that alemtuzumab may be indicated for the treatment of
AIHA in B-CLL patients who have failed other treatments.

PMID: 16645240 [PubMed - in process]