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Autoimmune Cytopenias in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Authors :
D'Arena, Giovanni
Guariglia, Roberto
La Rocca, Francesco
Trino, Stefania
Condelli, Valentina
De Martino, Laura
De Feo, Vincenzo
Musto, Pellegrino
Source :
Clinical and Developmental Immunology.
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2013.

Abstract

The clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be complicated at any time by autoimmune phenomena.The most common ones are hematologic disorders, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and autoimmune agranulocytosis (AG) are, indeed, more rarely seen. However, they are probably underestimated due to the possible misleading presence of cytopenias secondary to leukemic bone marrow involvement or to chemotherapy cytotoxicity. The source of autoantibodies is still uncertain, despite the most convincing data are in favor of the involvement of resting normal B-cells. In general, excluding the specific treatment of underlying CLL, the managementof these complications is not different from that of idiopathic autoimmune cytopenias or of those associated to other causes. Among different therapeutic approaches, monoclonal antibody rituximab, given alone or in combination, has shown to be very effective.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17402522
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Clinical and Developmental Immunology
Accession number :
edsair.hindawi.publ..0978391f94ba405b9f12f37613314968
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/730131