Resolution of pure red cell aplasia and lymphoma: response to intravenous gammaglobulin and combination chemotherapy

Autoimmune hemolytic anemias, Evans' syndromes, and pure red cell aplasia in non-Hodgkin lymphomas

We analyzed 108 cases of non-CLL non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) (+/- pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)) or Evans' syndrome. The analysis was based on cases reported in the literature, which were retrieved by means of Pubmed and Medline searches and of an original series of 121 patients with NHL as well as reference lists of papers in the field. The number of cases in various NHL subtypes was small (n = 6-25). Nevertheless, interesting and sometimes unexpected differences in sex prevalence, temporal relationship between onset of lymphoma and AIHA, stage of lymphoma, relative frequency of warm antibody-AIHA (WA-AIHA) and cold antibody (CA-AIHA), association with PRCA and response of AIHA to treatments were noted for various lymphoma entities. WA-AIHA was more frequent in B-cell lymphomas, while CA-AIHA and PRCA predominantly occurred in T-cell lymphomas. Anti-lymphoma treatment seemed to be more effective against AIHA than conventional therapy with steroids or immunoglobulin. Although generated by a literature survey, this compilation of data indicates a complex relation of lymphoma and AIHA and warrants more attention and specific studies.

Acquired pure red cell aplasia associated with malignant lymphomas: a nationwide cohort study in Japan for the PRCA Collaborative Study Group

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) has been reported in association with lymphoma as one of the autoimmune diseases seen during the course of lymphoid malignancies. However, the relation of PRCA with the underlying lymphomas remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the histologic subtypes of lymphomas, the chronological sequence of anemia and lymphoma, and the response to treatment. We conducted a nationwide survey in Japan. From a cohort of 185 PRCA patients, 8 patients with lymphoma were evaluated. Histologic subtypes varied and the lymphoma was of the B-cell type in four cases and of the T-cell type in four. Four patients simultaneously developed PRCA and lymphoma. Three patients developed PRCA following lymphoma, two of whom developed anemia during remission of lymphoma. PRCA preceded lymphoma in one patient. Effective chemotherapy was associated with remission of anemia in concurrent lymphoma and PRCA. Overall, anemia responded to chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy in seven patients. In four responding patients, PRCA remained in durable remission without maintenance immunosuppressive therapy, which is different from a recurrent feature of idiopathic PRCA. We suggest that the mechanism of lymphoma-associated PRCA is heterogeneous and that durable maintenance-free remission of anemia can be obtained in some patients.

Pure red cell aplasia and myelofibrosis in B-cell neoplasm

We describe an unusual case of B-cell neoplasm accompanied by pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and myelofibrosis in a 67-year-old male presenting with severe anaemia. A few unclassified, myeloperoxidase-negative blastoid cells were seen on bone marrow aspiration, and erythroid cell hypoplasia and myelofibrosis on bone marrow biopsy. An autoimmune PRCA was suspected, as serum CH50, C3 and C4 levels were consistently low. Ciclosporin was effective in treating the anaemia, but anaemia returned when the drug was discontinued. Thirteen months later, the patient was admitted with pleural effusion and ascites that contained monoclonal CD19+ CD20+ immature blast cells with a complex karyotype, thought to be neoplastic B-cells. The unclassified blastoid cells seen earlier may therefore have been from the same origin. The patient deteriorated rapidly and died. Only one case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with PRCA and myelofibrosis has been reported previously. We discuss the possibility that dysregulated T-cells induced by neoplastic B-cells may have given rise to concomitant PRCA and myelofibrosis.

Pure red cell aplasia after chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma: in vitro evidence for T cell mediated suppression of erythropoiesis and response to sequential cyclosporin and erythropoietin

Acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) has been associated with various lymphoproliferative conditions but its occurrence with Hodgkin's disease is rare. We report a case of PRCA occurring immediately following the completion of induction chemotherapy in a patient with Stage IIIB nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. In vitro erythroid colony studies documented evidence for T cell mediated suppression of erythropoiesis and lack of a serum inhibitor. Addition of cyclosporin to the in vitro cultures stimulated erythroid colony growth. Following in vivo treatment with cyclosporin peripheral blood CD4/CD8 ratios returned to normal. However, serum erythropoietin levels were inappropriately low. Subsequent treatment with erythropoietin induced a reticulocytosis and transfusion independence. Since discontinuing the erythropoietin, the patient has been able to maintain a hemoglobin of 100 g/L. This case illustrates that red cell aplasia occurring in the setting of Hodgkin's disease may be due to T cell mediated suppression of erythropoiesis. A response to cyclosporin may be masked by inappropriately low erythropoietin levels.