ABSTRACT

Hong Kong Med J 2013;19:549–52 | Number 6, December 2013
DOI: 10.12809/hkmj133798
CASE REPORT
Low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab is a safe and effective treatment for chronic acquired pure red cell aplasia
Jason KW Chow, TK Chan
Department of Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London, United Kingdom
 
 
Three patients with pure red cell aplasia, with or without co-existing large granular lymphocytic leukaemia, who remained transfusion-dependent despite treatment with established first-line therapy, were treated with low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab 15 mg twice to thrice per week, for 3 to 4 weeks. The mean response time was 17 days compared with a response time of at least 61 days on standard first-line therapy. There were no serious side-effects and the mean duration of remission was 13 months. Low-dose subcutaneous alemtuzumab is a safe and effective treatment for pure red cell aplasia and further trials should be conducted to compare the long-term effectiveness of this treatment with conventional therapy.
 
Key words: Immunosuppressive agents; Leukemia, large granular lymphocytic; Red-cell aplasia, pure
 
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