Fludarabine-related autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Ibrutinib as a treatment of hematologic autoimmune disorders in patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune conditions in B-cell lymphomas are frequent. Steroids are standard of care, but many patients require other immunosuppressive agents. Ibrutinib is a Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor that is approved for B-cell indolent lymphoma treatment. We evaluated the use of ibrutinib in previously treated hematologic immune manifestations associated with B-cell lymphomas.

RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective multicentric observational study. Patients presenting with active, relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma associated hematological immune manifestation (autoimmune cytopenia, acquired immune-mediated bleeding disorders) were included. Twenty-five patients were identified. Median age at ibrutinib introduction was 69 years (range 44-84) and median number of previous treatment lines before ibrutinib was 2 (1-7). Twenty-two patients (88%) were on concomitant stable treatment at inclusion. Within a median exposure of 8 months (2-35), overall response rate to ibrutinib on immune manifestations was 76% (95% CI, 54.9-90.6); complete response rate 44%. Fourteen patients (63%) were able to be weaned from concomitant treatments. Fourteen patients (56%) presented treatment-related adverse events, mostly Grade 1 or 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Ibrutinib in this setting provides good efficacy and safety profile. Clinical trials are needed to define subgroups of patients who will benefit from this strategy and establish its place in the therapeutic arsenal.

Antineoplastic activity of biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles to combat leukemia: Beginning a new era in cancer theragnostic

The American Cancer Society estimated around 61,090 new cases of leukemia were diagnosed, and around 23,660 people died from this disease in the United States alone in 2021. Due to its burden on society, there is an unmet need to explore innovative approaches to overcome leukemia. Among different strategies that have been explored, nanotechnology appears to be a promising and effective approach for therapeutics. Specifically, biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention for their antineoplastic activity toward leukemia cancer cells due to their unique physicochemical properties. Indeed, these nanostructures have emerged as useful approaches in anti-leukemic applications, either as carriers to enhance drug bioavailability and its targeted delivery to a specific organ or as a novel therapeutic agent. This review explores recent advances in green synthesized nanomaterials and their potential use against leukemia, especially focusing on silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanostructures. In detail, we have reviewed various eco-friendly methods of bio-synthesized NPs, their analytical properties, and toxicity effects against leukemic models. This overview confirms the satisfactory potency of biogenic NPs toward leukemic cells and desirable safety profiles against human native cells, which opens a promising door toward commercializing these types of nontherapeutic agents if challenges involve clinical validations, reproducibility, and scalability could be resolved.

Hemoglobinuria in the Early Poststem-Cell-Transplant Period: Risk Factors and Association with Outcomes

Background

Information on risk factors of hemoglobinuria after hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) and its association with AKI, mortality, and engraftment is limited.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study on all consecutive adults that underwent HSCT from January 6, 1999, to November 6, 2017. The study included 6039 patients that underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT), umbilical cord blood, and peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT).

Results

Early post-HSCT, AKI occurred in 393 (7%) patients, and 52 (0.9%) patients had post-HSCT hemoglobinuria. Post-HSCT hemoglobinuria was associated with graft type (BMT+Cord), underlying disease (lymphoma, acute leukemia), and fludarabine-based conditioning regimen. Post-HSCT hemoglobinuria was associated with early (48-72 hours) post-HSCT AKI. Graft type (BMT+Cord) was associated with AKI among patients with hemoglobinuria. AKI in patients with hemoglobinuria was associated with delayed platelet engraftment and delayed WBC engraftment but not 100-day mortality.

Conclusion

Close monitoring is recommended in this patient group to facilitate a good engraftment outcome.

Autoimmune Cytopenia in CLL: Prognosis and Management in the Era of Targeted Therapies

ABSTRACT

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is frequently associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia and, less frequently, with pure red cell aplasia and immune neutropenia. The emergence of these complications is related to an intertwined and complex relationship between patient, disease, and treatment characteristics. The prognostic repercussion of autoimmune cytopenia (AIC) in patients with CLL mainly depends on its response to therapy. For patients with AIC and nonactive CLL, treatment is as in primary, uncomplicated AIC, keeping in mind that no response is an indication for CLL therapy. The success of treating active CLL-related AIC widely relies on a flexible strategy that should include initial therapy with corticosteroids and a rapid shift to effective CLL therapy in nonresponding patients. Targeted therapies (e.g., ibrutinib) that have already demonstrated to be effective in CLL-related AIC will likely offer a unique possibility of treating both AIC and CLL as a single target.

Preexisting and treatment-emergent autoimmune cytopenias in patients with CLL treated with targeted drugs

Autoimmune cytopenias (AICs) affect 5% to 9% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Targeted drugs-ibrutinib, idelalisib, and venetoclax-have a prominent role in the treatment of CLL, but their impact on CLL-associated AICs is largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics and outcome of preexisting AICs and described the incidence, quality, and management of treatment-emergent AICs during therapy with targeted drugs in patients with CLL. We collected data from 572 patients treated with ibrutinib (9% in combination with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), 143 treated with idelalisib-rituximab, and 100 treated with venetoclax (12% in combination with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody). A history of preexisting AICs was reported in 104 (13%) of 815 patients. Interestingly, 80% of patients whose AICs had not resolved when treatment with a targeted drug was started experienced an improvement or a resolution during therapy. Treatment-emergent AICs occurred in 1% of patients during ibrutinib therapy, in 0.9% during idelalisib therapy, and in 7% during venetoclax therapy, with an estimated incidence rate of 5, 6, and 69 episodes per 1000 patients per year of exposure in the 3 treatment groups, respectively. The vast majority of patients who developed treatment-emergent AICs had unfavorable biological features such as an unmutated IGHV and a del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation. Notably, despite AICs, 83% of patients were able to continue the targeted drug, in some cases in combination with additional immunosuppressive agents. Overall, treatment with ibrutinib, idelalisib, or venetoclax seems to have a beneficial impact on CLL-associated AICs, inducing an improvement or even a resolution of preexisting AICs in most cases and eliciting treatment-emergent AICs in a negligible portion of patients.

Autoimmune cytopenias (AIC) following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant for acquired aplastic anaemia: a joint study of the Autoimmune Diseases and Severe Aplastic Anaemia Working Parties (ADWP/SAAWP) of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

This retrospective study explored the incidence of autoimmune cytopenia (AIC) in 530 paediatric and adult patients with acquired aplastic anaemia (aAA) who underwent first allogeneic HSCT between 2002 and 2012. AIC was a rare complication with a cumulative incidence of AIC at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years post HSCT of 2.5% (1.2-3.9 95% CI), 4.4% (2.6-6.2 95% CI), 4.6% (2.8-6.5 95% CI) and 5.1% (3.1-7.2 95% CI). Overall survival at 5 years after diagnosis of AIC was 85.9% (71-100 95% CI). Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with AIC at a median of 10.6 (2.6-91.5) months post HSCT. Eight (32%) patients were diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), seven (28%) with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), seven (24%) with Evans syndrome and four (16%) with autoimmune neutropenia (AIN). Treatment strategies were heterogeneous. Complete responses were seen in 12 of 25 patients, with death in three patients. In multivariable Cox analysis of a subgroup of 475 patients, peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplant was associated with higher risk of AIC compared with bone marrow (BM) when conditioning regimens contained fludarabine and/or alemtuzumab (2.81 [1.06-7.49 95% CI]; p = 0.038), or anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (2.86 [1.11-7.37 95% CI]; p = 0.029). Myeloablative conditioning was associated with a lower risk of AIC compared with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) in fludarabine and/or alemtuzumab (0.34 [0.12-0.98 95% CI]; p = 0.046) and ATG containing regimens (0.34 [0.12-0.95 95% CI]; p = 0.04). These findings provide clinically useful information regarding the incidence of a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of allogeneic HSCT for aAA, and further support for BM as the preferred stem cell source for transplant of patients with aAA.

Autoimmune Complications in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Era of Targeted Drugs

Autoimmune phenomena are frequently observed in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and are mainly attributable to underlying dysfunctions of the immune system. Autoimmune cytopenias (AIC) affect 4-7% of patients with CLL and mainly consist of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia. Although less common, non-hematological autoimmune manifestations have also been reported. Treatment of CLL associated AIC should be primarily directed against the autoimmune phenomenon, and CLL specific therapy should be reserved to refractory cases or patients with additional signs of disease progression. New targeted drugs (ibrutinib, idelalisib and venetoclax) recently entered the therapeutic armamentarium of CLL, showing excellent results in terms of efficacy and became an alternative option to standard chemo-immunotherapy for the management of CLL associated AIC. However, the possible role of these drugs in inducing or exacerbating autoimmune phenomena still needs to be elucidated. In this article, we review currently available data concerning autoimmune phenomena in patients with CLL, particularly focusing on patients treated with ibrutinib, idelalisib, or venetoclax, and we discuss the possible role of these agents in the management of AIC.

A case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia complicated by autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to ibrutinib treatment

Ibrutinib (IBR) covalently binds to the active site of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and is used for the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Approximately 5-10% of CLL is complicated by autoimmune cytopenia (AIC), such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Several cases of AIC have reportedly demonstrated improvement during IBR treatment. However, in our case, the patient developed AIHA during oral IBR treatment. As AIHA is exacerbated by the increased number of CLL cells in the peripheral blood, it may have developed because of disease progression rather than IBR use. This phenomenon may also be attributed to the production of autoantibodies due to increased number of CD5+ B cells. In this case, withdrawal of IBR and administration of rituximab improved hemolysis. If AIHA develops during treatment, its etiology must be examined to confirm the effects of treatment.

A Rare Association of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

An 80-year-old male presented with dyspnea on exertion for at least two months. He also complained of progressive dysphagia and weight loss of 35 pounds over the last eight months. Initial blood tests showed hemoglobin of 6.1 g/dl, reticulocytes count of 19.7%, total bilirubin of 3.2 mg/dl, lactate dehydrogenase of 600 U/L, and haptoglobin of less than 8 mg/dl, and direct Coombs test was positive for warm immunoglobulin G. The impression was autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). The evaluation of dysphagia with esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a single irregular 4 cm malignant appearing ulcerated mass at the incisura angularis of the stomach. The mass was confirmed as adenocarcinoma on biopsy. Diagnostic laparoscopy was positive for malignant cells and he was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Other extensive workup to determine the etiology of AIHA was negative (described in detail below). Surgery was deferred primarily due to metastasis of cancer. Initially, hemoglobin was stabilized by intravenous methylprednisolone, high dose immunoglobulins, and packed red blood cell transfusions. After a few weeks, hemoglobin started trending down again. The patient was weaned off steroids and paradoxically IgG-mediated autohemolysis was controlled with the initiation of palliative chemotherapy. Our case highlights a rare occurrence of AIHA in association with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Transient hemolysis due to anti-D and anti-A1 produced by engrafted donor's lymphocytes after allogeneic unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Development of de novo alloantibodies against recipient's red blood cell (RBC) antigens by engrafted donor's lymphocytes is a known phenomenon in the setting of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This situation is usually clinically insignificant. We report a case of early clinically relevant hemolytic anemia in a blood group A₁ D+ patient, due to a limited production of anti-D and anti-A₁ produced by nonpreviously sensitized newly engrafted donor's immune system.

CASE REPORT

A 31-year-old Caucasian woman, blood group A₁ , D+, with Hodgkin's lymphoma, received an unmanipulated haploidentical allogeneic peripheral blood HSCT after a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen. Donor blood group was A₂ B, D-. The patient had an uneventful course until Day +34, when she developed clinically significant hemolytic anemia with a positive direct antiglobulin test. Anti-D and anti-A₁ produced by the donor-engrafted lymphocytes were detected both in serum and in eluate. The hemolysis produced an accelerated group change, turning the patient's ABO group into A₂ B 2 weeks after the detection of the alloantibodies. As the residual patient's RBCs progressively disappeared, anti-D and anti-A₁ production decreased and were not detected in serum by Day +41.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates that de novo alloantibody production against ABO and D antigens by the newly engrafted donor's lymphocytes can occasionally cause clinically significant anemia. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of clinically significant hemolytic anemia due to a transient anti-D anti-A₁ alloimmunization after T-cell-repleted haploidentical HSCT.

Secondary autoimmune cytopenias in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Secondary autoimmune cytopenias in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are distinct clinical entities that require specific management. These autoimmune disorders have a complex pathogenesis that involves both the leukemic cells and the immune environment in which they exist. The mechanism is not the same in all cases, and to varying degrees involves the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells in antibody production, antigen presentation, and stimulation of T cells and bystander polyclonal B cells. Diagnosis of autoimmune cytopenias can be challenging as it is difficult to differentiate between autoimmunity and bone marrow failure due to disease progression. There is a need to distinguish these causes, as prognosis and treatment are not the same. Evidence regarding treatment of secondary autoimmune cytopenias is limited, but many effective options exist and treatment can be selected with severity of disease and patient factors in mind. With new agents to treat CLL coming into widespread clinical use, it will be important to understand how these will change the natural history and treatment of autoimmune cytopenias.

Incidence and description of autoimmune cytopenias during treatment with ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is frequently complicated by secondary autoimmune cytopenias (AICs). Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase approved for the treatment of relapsed CLL and CLL with del(17p). The effect of ibrutinib treatment on the incidence of AIC is currently unknown. We reviewed medical records of 301 patients treated with ibrutinib, as participants in therapeutic clinical trials at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center between July 2010 and July 2014. Subjects were reviewed with respect to past history of AIC, and treatment-emergent AIC cases were identified. Before starting ibrutinib treatment, 26% of patients had experienced AIC. Information was available for a total of 468 patient-years of ibrutinib exposure, during which there were six cases of treatment-emergent AIC. This corresponds to an estimated incidence rate of 13 episodes for every 1000 patient-years of ibrutinib treatment. We further identified 22 patients receiving therapy for AIC at the time ibrutinib was started. Of these 22 patients, 19 were able to discontinue AIC therapy. We found that ibrutinib treatment is associated with a low rate of treatment-emergent AIC. Patients with an existing AIC have been successfully treated with ibrutinib and subsequently discontinued AIC therapy.

Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is defined as the destruction of circulating red blood cells (RBCs) in the setting of anti-RBC autoantibodies that optimally react at 37°C. The pathophysiology of disease involves phagocytosis of autoantibody-coated RBCs in the spleen and complement-mediated hemolysis. Thus far, treatment is aimed at decreasing autoantibody production with immunosuppression or reducing phagocytosis of affected cells in the spleen. The role of complement inhibitors in warm AIHA has not been explored. This article addresses the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of warm AIHA and highlights the role of complement in disease pathology.

Poor efficacy and tolerability of R-CHOP in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Richter transformation

This phase II trial evaluated efficacy and tolerability of R-CHOP for up to 8 courses in Richter transformation (RT) and up to 6 courses in CLL plus autoimmune cytopenia (AIC) or high-risk (HR) features. HR was defined as fludarabine-refractoriness or early relapse (<36 months) after fludarabine-based treatment; 26 patients were included as HR, 19 patients had AIC, and 15 patients had RT. In the HR cohort, overall response rate was 54%, progression-free and overall survival were 9 and 21 months. In AIC patients overall response rate was 74%, progression-free and overall-survival were 10 and 41 months, respectively, and median increase in hemoglobin was 3.4 g/L. RT patients responded in 67%, progression-free was 10 and overall survival 21 months. The most common adverse events were hematologic toxicities in 92%. Severe infections occurred in 28%. Treatment was discontinued early in 45% of all patients mainly as a result of toxicity. This trial shows that R-CHOP has no role in treating complicated CLL. R-CHOP is associated with significant toxicities and fairly low efficacy compared with almost every other CLL-regimen. In RT, it might still be used as an induction therapy before allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Short communication: bendamustine-related hemolytic anemia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

PURPOSE

Immune hemolytic anemia (IHA) may complicate the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), especially in patients with advanced disease, and as a complication of treatment with chlorambucil or fludarabine. Bendamustine, a novel agent with both alkylating and purine-analog properties, was approved in the USA for use in CLL in 2008. Since then, clinical data on its adverse events are accumulating. IHA related to bendamustine was seldom described and is thus reported and reviewed.

METHODS

We assessed five cases of CLL patients complicated by IHA, out of 31 treated with bendamustine for a relapse of their disease. Also reviewed are previous case reports in the literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Bendamustine-related IHA is more common than suspected (16 %). No such cases were found in non-CLL patients. Personal history of fludarabine-triggered AIHA may be a risk factor for this complication (recorded in 4/5 patients, 80 %). The mechanism is thought to be related to the loss of T cell regulatory control as described for other agents. Physicians using bendamustine for the treatment for CLL should be aware of this complication.

Ibuprofen-induced hemolytic anemia

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is a rare condition with an incidence of 1 per million of the population. We report the case of a 36-year-old female who presented to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and dark colored urine. Physical examination was significant for pale mucous membranes. The patient reported using ibuprofen for a few days prior to presentation. Complete blood count performed before starting ibuprofen revealed normal platelets and hemoglobin values. On admission, the patient had evidence of hemolytic anemia with hemoglobin of 4.9 g/dL, hematocrit of 14.2%, lactate dehydrogenase 435 IU/L, and reticulocytosis 23.2%. Further testing ruled out autoimmune disease, lymphoma, and leukemia as etiologies for the patient's new onset hemolytic anemia. Ibuprofen was immediately stopped with a gradual hematologic recovery within 3 days.

Autoimmune cytopenias in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

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.

The use of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of autoimmune complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Autoimmune cytopenias are a frequent complication in CLL, occurring in approximately 5-10% of the patients. The most common manifestation is autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, followed by immune thrombocytopenia and only rarely pure red blood cell aplasia or autoimmune granulocytopenia. Initial treatment is as for the idiopathic autoimmune cytopenias, with most patients responding to conventional corticosteroid therapy. Patients, who do not respond to conventional therapy after 4-6 weeks, should be considered for alternative immunosuppression, monoclonal antibody therapy or splenectomy. While randomized trials demonstrating the benefit of rituximab in CLL-related autoimmune diseases are still lacking, there are considerable data in the literature that provide evidence for its effectiveness. The monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab also displays considerable activity against both the malignant disease and the autoimmune complication in patients with CLL, although at the expense of greater toxicity. A number of new monoclonal antibodies, such as ofatumumab, GA-101, lumiliximab, TRU-016, epratuzumab, and galiximab, are currently investigated in CLL and their activity in CLL-related autoimmune cytopenias should be evaluated in future studies.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and autoimmunity: a systematic review

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is frequently associated with immune disturbances. The relationship between chronic lymphocytic leukemia and autoimmune cytopenias, particularly autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia, is well established. The responsible mechanisms, particularly the role of leukemic cells in orchestrating the production of polyclonal autoantibodies, are increasingly well understood. Recent studies show that autoimmune cytopenia is not necessarily associated with poor prognosis. On the contrary, patients with anemia or thrombocytopenia due to immune mechanisms have a better outcome than those in whom these features are due to bone marrow infiltration by the disease. Moreover, fears about the risk of autoimmune hemolysis following single agent fludarabine may no longer be appropriate in the age of chemo-immunotherapy regimens. However, treatment of patients with active hemolysis may pose important problems needing an individualized and clinically sound approach. The concept that autoimmune cytopenia may precede the leukemia should be revisited in the light of recent data showing that autoimmune cytopenia may be observed in monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, a condition that can only be detected by using sensitive flow cytometry techniques. On the other hand, there is no evidence of an increased risk of non-hemic autoimmune disorders in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Likewise, there is no epidemiological proof of an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients with non-hemic autoimmunity. Finally, since immune disorders are an important part of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, studies aimed at revealing the mechanisms linking the neoplastic and the immune components of the disease should help our understanding of this form of leukemia.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: classification and therapeutic approaches

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a relatively uncommon cause of anemia. Classifications of AIHA include warm AIHA, cold AIHA (including mainly chronic cold agglutinin disease and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria), mixed-type AIHA and drug-induced AIHA. AIHA may also be further subdivided on the basis of etiology. Management of AIHA is based mainly on empirical data and on small, retrospective, uncontrolled studies. The therapeutic options for treating AIHA are increasing with monoclonal antibodies and, potentially, complement inhibitory drugs. Based on data available in the literature and our experience, we propose algorithms for the treatment of warm AIHA and cold agglutinin disease in adults. Therapeutic trials are needed in order to better stratify treatment, taking into account the promising efficacy of rituximab.

Autoimmune cytopenia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: prevalence, clinical associations, and prognostic significance

We analyzed prevalence, characteristics, clinical correlates, and prognostic significance of autoimmune cytopenia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Seventy of 960 unselected patients (7%) had autoimmune cytopenia, of whom 19 were detected at diagnosis, 3 before diagnosis, and 48 during the course of the disease. Forty-nine patients had autoimmune hemolytic anemia, 20 had immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and 1 had both conditions. A clear association was observed between autoimmune cytopenia and poor prognostic variables (ie, high blood lymphocyte count, rapid blood lymphocyte doubling time, increased serum β-2 microglobulin level, and high expression of ζ-associated protein 70 and CD38). Nevertheless, the outcome of patients with autoimmune cytopenia as a whole was not significantly different from that of patients without this complication. Furthermore, no differences were observed according to time at which cytopenia was detected (ie, at diagnosis, during course of disease). Importantly, patients with advanced (Binet stage C) disease because of an autoimmune mechanism had a significantly better survival than patients in advanced stage related to a massive bone marrow infiltration (median survivals: 7.4 years vs 3.7 years; P = .02). These results emphasize the importance of determining the origin of cytopenia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia for both treatment and prognostic purposes.

Treatment of autoimmune cytopenia complicating progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone

Treatment of autoimmune cytopenia complicating progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is constrained by intolerance of myelosuppression and the risk of exacerbation of autoimmune cytopenia by purine analogs particularly when used as single agents. We report on 20 such patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CVP). Autoimmune cytopenia responded in 19 patients (14 complete remissions (CR), five partial remissions (PR)) with a median time to next treatment (TTT) for autoimmune cytopenia of 21.7 months. Progressive CLL responded in 17 patients (nine CR/complete clinical response, eight PR) with a median TTT of 27.7 months. Five patients have not required any re-treatment at 15-30 months. Grade 3-4 toxicities were infections (n = 3) and drug-induced pneumonitis (n = 1). No patient required blood cell transfusions after cycle 1 of therapy. We conclude that R-CVP is effective and tolerable therapy for autoimmune cytopenia complicating progressive CLL, but the duration of response is suboptimal.

Immune hemolytic anemia associated with drug therapy

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is rare; it can be mild or associated with acute severe hemolytic anemia (HA) and death. About 125 drugs have been implicated as the cause. The HA can be caused by drug-independent antibodies that are indistinguishable, in vitro and in vivo, from autoantibodies causing idiopathic warm type autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). More commonly, the antibodies are drug-dependent (i.e., will only react in vitro in the presence of the drug). The most common drugs to cause DIIHA are anti-microbials (e.g., cefotetan, ceftriaxone and piperacillin), which are associated with drug-dependent antibodies. The most common drug to cause AIHA is fludarabine. Finding out which drug is causing the problem and stopping that drug is the first approach to therapy. It is not easy to identify the drug interactions accurately in vitro; laboratories specializing in this area can be of great help.

Autoimmune complications in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

Patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia /small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) have a 5-10% risk of developing autoimmune complications, which primarily cause cytopaenia. These autoimmune cytopaenias can occur at any stage of CLL and do not have independent prognostic significance. The most common autoimmune complication is autoimmune haemolytic anaemia with a lower frequency of immune thrombocytopaenia and pure red blood cell aplasia and only rarely, autoimmune granulocytopaenia (AIG). Autoimmune cytopaenia should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of cytopaenia in patients with CLL. Patients with CLL can also have more than one form of autoimmune cytopaenia, which can occur together with bone-marrow failure. Treatment is usually effective but rarely curative for autoimmune cytopaenia complicating CLL. Optimal therapy will depend on a timely and accurate diagnosis of autoimmune cytopaenia and should be individualised according to the severity of the cytopaenia and the presence or absence of concomitant progressive CLL requiring therapy.

Autoimmune cytopenia in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma: changes in clinical presentation and prognosis

Improved medical care could have altered the clinical presentation and survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) complicated by autoimmune disease cytopenia (AID cytopenia). We reviewed the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of AID cytopenia that was diagnosed in 75 (4.3%) of 1750 patients with CLL seen at a single institution over 10 years. When compared with the historical reported data, our study shows a lower rate of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (2.3%), and similar rates of immune thrombocytopenia (2.0%), and pure red blood cell aplasia (0.5%). AID cytopenia occurred at all stages of CLL, responded well to treatment, did not alter overall survival, and contributed to death in only 6 (12%) patients. We propose that more sensitive and accurate diagnostic methods for CLL have decreased the perceived prevalence of AID cytopenia and that improvements in management could have increased the survival of these patients.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-associated autoimmune hemolytic anemia

The clinical course of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is often made complicated by autoimmune phenomena which mainly target the blood cells. Among them, the autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is the most common form. On the other hand, it is believed that CLL is the most common of the known causes of AIHA. The source of any putative autoantibody (bystander nonmalignant cells or tumor cells) is not clear yet. Recently, it has been hypothesized that leukemic B-cells may also act as professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). With respect to the management of CLL-associated AIHA, steroids still represent the first-line treatment option. Intravenous immunoglobulin, immunosuppressive drugs, and splenectomy are also frequently used for steroid-refractory forms. Furthermore, although the case series is still too small, encouraging data is now supporting the use of monoclonal antibodies, in particular anti-CD20 rituximab, in managing this often life-threatening autoimmune complication of CLL.

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.

Immune hemolytic anemia--selected topics

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is most often idiopathic. However, in recent years, AIHA has been noted with increased incidence in patients receiving purine nucleoside analogues for hematologic malignancies; it has also been described as a complication of blood transfusion in patients who have also had alloimmunization. As the technology of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become more widespread, immune hemolysis in the recipients of ABO-mismatched products has become better recognized. The syndrome is caused by passenger lymphocytes transferred from the donor and, although transient, can be quite severe. A similar syndrome has been observed in recipients of solid organ transplants when there is ABO-incompatibility between donor and recipient. Venous thromboembolism is a little-recognized, though likely common, complication of AIHA, and may in some instances be related to coexistent antiphospholipid antibodies. While AIHA is a well-documented complication of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders may also paradoxically appear as a consequence of AIHA. A number of newer options are available for treatment of AIHA in patients refractory to corticosteroids and splenectomy. Newer immunosuppressives such as mycophenolate mofetil may have a role in such cases. Considerable experience has been accumulating in the last few years with monoclonal antibody therapy, mainly rituximab, in difficult AIHA cases; it appears to be a safe and effective option.

Immunohistochemistry for human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 protein predicts fludarabine sensitivity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Fludarabine (F-ara-A) is widely used as palliative treatment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Clinical resistance is frequently observed, and adverse effects are common. To date, no practical assay exists to identify patients likely to derive benefit from F-ara-A. We previously reported that high mRNA levels encoding human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3) protein in CLL correlated with clinical resistance to F-ara-A. This study explores the value of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for hCNT3 as a marker of F-ara-A resistance in CLL. We studied 36 CLL patients who received F-ara-A monotherapy and had suitable pre-F-ara-A tissue available. IHC was performed with validated hCNT3-specific monoclonal antibodies and quantitatively scored by a hematopathologist blinded to clinical outcomes. Relationships between hCNT3 staining in CLL cells and time to progression (TTP), overall response (OR), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Dichotomization of quantitative hCNT3 staining showed that subjects with high hCNT3 IHC scores had a significantly shorter TTP with F-ara-A treatment compared to those with a low score (hazard ratio, HR, 3.16; P=0.006). Median TTP was 4.7 vs 11.2 months, respectively. On multivariate analysis, hCNT3 score was the only clinical parameter independently associated with TTP (HR, 3.12; P=0.01). OR and OS did not differ significantly between the dichotomized groups. We found a strong relationship between IHC staining of hCNT3 and clinical resistance to F-ara-A therapy in CLL. If confirmed, IHC for hCNT3 may be routinely used to predict those patients unlikely to benefit from F-ara-A, thereby avoiding F-ara-A-related toxicities.

[Transfusion in haematology]

In the field of oncohematology, the rationale for the use of blood transfusion relies both on the proliferative advantage of the transformed clone over the others and on hematologic toxicity of chemotherapy. In France, transfusion thresholds are established by a consensus conference organized by the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé (Afssaps), the French health products safety agency: 80g/l for PRC and 10G/l for platelets concentrates in patients without additional hemorragic risk factors. For FFP especially in TTP, thresholds are more patient-related. Transfusion for sickle cell patients remains a scientific challenge.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is the commonest form of leukaemia in Europe and North America, and mainly, though not exclusively, affects older individuals. It has a very variable course, with survival ranging from months to decades. Major progress has been made in identification of molecular and cellular markers that could predict disease progression in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. In particular, the mutational profile of immunoglobulin genes and some cytogenetic abnormalities are important predictors of prognosis. However, these advances have raised new questions about the biology, prognosis, and management of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, some of which are addressed here. In particular, we discuss how better understanding of the function of the B-cell receptor, the nature of genetic lesions, and the balance between proliferation and apoptosis have affected our ability to assess prognosis and to manage chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Available treatments generally induce remission, although nearly all patients relapse, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia remains an incurable disease. Advances in molecular biology have enhanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and, together with development of new therapeutic agents, have made management of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia more rational and more effective than previously. Unfortunately, we know of no way that chronic lymphocytic leukaemia can be prevented. Early detection is practised widely, but seemingly makes no difference to the patient's eventual outcome.

The prognostic significance of a positive direct antiglobulin test in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a beneficial effect of the combination of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide on the incidence of hemolytic anemia

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) is a common complication in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The UK LRF CLL4 trial is the largest prospective trial in CLL to examine the prognostic impact of both a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and AHA. Seven-hundred seventy-seven patients were randomized to receive chlorambucil or fludarabine, alone or with cyclophosphamide (FC). The incidence pretreatment of a positive DAT was 14%. Ten percent developed AHA. The DAT correctly predicted the development, or not, of AHA after therapy in 83% of cases, however only 28% of DAT-positive patients developed AHA. Of 299 patients tested both before and after treatment, those treated with single-agent fludarabine were most likely to remain DAT positive and to change from negative to positive. Patients treated with chlorambucil or fludarabine were more than twice as likely to develop AHA as those receiving FC. In a multivariate analysis, stage C disease and high beta2 microglobulin were independent predictors of a positive DAT result. AHA, or a positive DAT, with or without AHA, independently predicted for reduced overall survival (OS). Four deaths, all on fludarabine monotherapy, were attributed to AHA. In conclusion, DAT status at the time of initiation of therapy provides a new prognostic indicator, although FC may protect against AHA. This trial was registered at http://isrctn.org as no. 58585610.

Clonal gammopathies following alemtuzumab-based reduced intensity conditioning haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: association with chronic graft-versus-host disease and improved overall survival

The presence of clonal gammopathies (CG) has been reported following both conventional myeloablative and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We monitored the occurrence of CG in a cohort of patients with myeloid malignancies receiving FBC (fludarabine-busulphan-alemtuzumab)-based reduced intensity conditioned (RIC) HSCT, and assessed its correlation with infections, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and survival. Serial serum protein electrophoresis was analysed in a total of 138 patients and CG were detected in 49 patients (36%). The predominant Ig isotype was IgG (82%). There was no difference in the incidence of viral infections between patient groups. However, patients with gammopathies were more likely to have had prior chronic GvHD (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.5, P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, the only factors that were found to influence overall survival (OS) were presence of gammopathies, which was associated with an improved OS (OR 0.35 95% CI 0.14-0.86, P=0.02) as well as disease stage, patients with advanced disease having a higher risk of death (OR 2.20 95% CI 1.18-4.11, P=0.02). Disease stage was the only variable that influenced relapse incidence on multivariate analysis (OR 4.22 95% CI 1.82-9.78, P<0.01). Clonal gammopathies are a frequent but benign occurrence following alemtuzumab-based RIC HSCT, and their appearance may define a group of patients with a favourable overall outcome.

Autoimmunity and malignancy in hematology—More than an association

Several associations between hematological malignancies and autoimmunity directed against hematopoietic cells exist. Antibody mediated elimination of mature blood cells such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are frequent complications of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, most prominently chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Autoimmunity directed against hematopoietic precursor cells is the hallmark of aplastic anemia, but many features of this disease are shared by two related disorders, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). While the clinical associations between hematological malignancy and autoimmunity have been described many decades ago, only in the last several years have the common pathogenetic mechanisms been elucidated. We summarize the recent progress made in understanding how hematological malignancy gives rise to autoimmunity directed against blood cells and vice versa, and illustrate parallels in the etiology of malignant and autoimmune hematological disorders. Specifically, recent progress in the recognition of the association of lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmunity against mature blood cells, and common pathogenetic background of aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and myelodysplastic syndrome are discussed.

Management of symptomatic, untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Fludarabine-based regimens have become an increasingly popular first-line approach for symptomatic patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Compared with chlorambucil, fludarabine alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide or rituximab yields higher response rates, higher complete remission rates, and more durable progression-free survival. Immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy also have the potential to increase the depth of remission as assessed by flow cytometry or molecular techniques. An overall survival advantage with any one particular regimen has not yet been demonstrated. Progress with fludarabine-based regimens, monoclonal antibodies, chemoimmunotherapy, and high-dose therapy for previously untreated patients is reviewed. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunoglobulin variable heavy-chain sequencing now permit more individualized risk assessment. Examples of possible treatment algorithms based on risk category are explored. How to tailor treatment based on these newer prognostic factors remains a central, as yet unanswered management question.

From normal to clonal B cells: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at the crossroad between neoplasia and autoimmunity

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy endowed with a number of features that recall autoimmune disorders, including the CD5 expression and the development of autoimmune manifestations restricted to self antigens expressed by hematopoietic cells. Several evidences strongly support the possibility that an antigenic stimulation through the B-cell receptor (BCR) is involved in the selection and possibly also the expansion of the malignant clone. Though all evidences suggest specific Ag recognition and possibly stimulation at different time-points, the nature of the Ag(s) is still unknown. It appears likely that CLL cells derive from a pool of auto/polyreactive CD5(+) B cells. Hence CLL appears to be a B-cell malignancy triggered or facilitated in its development and evolution by an auto-Ag. The crucial issues have become to what extent this deleterious binding capacity is central to the natural history of the disease and how it relates to the malignant transformation of the cell.