Successful Treatment of Pure Red Cell Aplasia with Rituximab in Patients after ABO-Compatible Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Gilteritinib combined with venetoclax and azacitidine for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia cocurrent with pure red cell aplasia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare bone marrow (BM) disorder characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis, reduced reticulocyte count, normocytic anemia, and the absence of erythroid precursors. Here, we present a rare instance of PRCA occurring after ABO-matched allo-HSCT in a refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patient. In this case, the patient received a combination treatment of Gilteritinib, Venetoclax, and Azacitidine. Remarkably, this treatment not only reduced myeloblasts but also facilitated the restoration of erythroid hematopoiesis.

Case Report: Roxadustat in Combination With Rituximab Was Used to Treat EPO-Induced Pure Red Cell Aplasia

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a drug given to patients who have low hemoglobin related to chronic kidney disease or other anemia-related diseases. Some patients who receive rHuEPO repeatedly develop anti-rHuEPO-neutralizing antibodies, leading to the occurrence of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). PRCA associated with rHuEPO includes severe rHuEPO resistance, blood transfusion dependence, high serum ferritin, severe reticulocytopenia, and presence of anti-rHuEPO antibody. However, the optimal treatment of erythropoietin (EPO)-induced PRCA is unclear. Therapeutic options against it remain a major clinical challenge. Herein we report on 2 male patients with PRCA during rHuEPO treatment, who received a combination therapy of roxadustat plus rituximab but had completely different clinical outcomes. The results obtained in this study show that roxadustat in combination with rituximab could be one of the treatment options for EPO-induced PRCA, but the treatment efficacy can vary from one individual to another. Additionally, we recommend starting reticulocyte monitoring and immunosuppressive agent therapy as early as possible to shorten the course of the disease and improve the outcomes of the patients.

Daratumumab for pure red cell aplasia post ABO incompatible allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant for aplastic anemia

Pure red cell aplasia is a known complication after ABO incompatible stem cell transplant. Due to rarity of disease, no established treatment guidelines are available for PRCA. Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody against CD38 expressed by plasma cells. In this report we present our experience of successfully managing a patient of post-transplant PRCA with daratumumab. Our patient had failed multiple lines of therapy prior to receiving daratumumab. Response was seen after the 3rd weekly dose of daratumumab.

Linezolid-induced pure red cell aplasia: a case report and literature review

Linezolid (LZD) is the first oxazolidinone with excellent safety and efficacy profiles against refractory infections caused by gram-positive organisms. Hematological toxicities such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, and leukocytopenia are common in LZD therapy; however, LZD-induced pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is rare. An 83-year-old man diagnosed with pleural empyema caused by Staphylococcus aureus received LZD after developing resistance to multiple antibiotics. Although his infection-related symptoms were improved by LZD, progressive anemia was noticed after LZD therapy was initiated. Eight weeks after LZD administration began, his hemoglobin level was 5.7 g/dL and reticulocyte proportion was 0.36%, while his white blood cell and platelet counts remained unchanged since admission. Bone marrow examination revealed markedly decreased erythropoiesis with cytoplasmic vacuolation of erythroblasts. Anemia resolved by 14 days after cessation of LZD. It is important to increase the awareness among clinicians about the potential for the hematological effects associated with LZD, particularly for older patients with pre-existing anemia and treatment courses longer than 14 days. To detect bone marrow suppression, including PRCA, we suggest monitoring the complete blood count and reticulocyte count periodically in patients receiving long-term LZD therapy.

Linezolid Induced Twice Pure Red Cell Aplasia in a Patient with Central Nervous System Infection after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Linezolid (LZD), severed as the first oxazolidinone antibiotic, was active against multidrug-resistant gram-positive strains. LZD can induce thrombocytopenia, anemia and leukocytopenia. Currently, reports on pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) cases induced by LZD are relatively rare (4-7). In this paper, we reported a patient with PRCA twice induced by LZD. A 37-year-old man was diagnosed with myelodysplatic syndrome (MDS) and underwent allo-HSCT from an unrelated donor with ABO blood type and leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matching. After HSCT for 2 years, the patient suffered from refractory fever and headache. He was first treated with empirical antifungal agent and antibiotics for central nervous system (CNS) infection, but then changed to LZD therapy for little effect. Twenty-eight days after LZD treatment, the symptom improved significantly but the hemoglobin declined to 70 g/L and the reticulocyte level was only 0.23%. The LZD therapy was stopped and the fever and headache symptoms reoccurred 1 week latter. Then, erythropoietin (EPO) and halved dosage of LZD were used for treatment. The CNS infection and the anemia symptom relieved gradually and the level of hemoglobin and reticulocyte declined again. After blood transfusion, the half dose of LZD was sustained without anaemia recovery. In summary, patients with anemia, myelosuppressants history or potential abnormal proliferation of T cells may suffer PRCA with long term LZD treatment. The monitoring of complete blood count and reticulocyte count were necessary during LZD therapy. If the clinical condition permits, LZD dosage reduction and blood transfusion should be considered.

Analysis of donor and recipient ABO incompatibility and antibody-associated complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can be performed across the ABO blood group barrier. The impact of ABO incompatibility on clinical outcome is controversial. A retrospective analysis of 310 patients who underwent HSCT with reduced-intensity conditioning between 1998 and 2011 was performed to investigate the frequency and clinical implications of anti-RBC antibodies in passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) after minor ABO mismatch (mm), persistent or recurring recipient type ABO antibodies (PRABO) after major ABO mm HSCT, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Transplantation characteristics and clinical outcome were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis for groups with or without anti-RBC antibodies. ABO blood group incompatibility did not affect clinical outcome despite an increased requirement of blood transfusion. Twelve patients with AIHA, 6 patients with PLS, and 12 patients with PRABO post-HSCT were identified. AIHA did not affect overall survival (OS) or transplant-related mortality (TRM), but patients with AIHA had a lower incidence of grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (P = .05). OS in the PLS group was 0% compared with 61% in the whole group receiving minor ABO mm transplants (P < .001). Comparing PRABO patients with those receiving a major ABO mm HSCT, the OS was 17% versus 73% (P = .002) and TRM was 50% versus 21% (P = .03). At our center, PLS after minor ABO mm and PRABO antibodies after major ABO mm HSCT are significant risk factors for decreased OS and TRM. Our results suggest that occurrence of unexpected ABO antibodies after HSCT warrant a wider investigation individual to find the underlying cause.

Fatal immune hemolytic anemia following allogeneic stem cell transplantation: report of 2 cases and review of literature

Immune hemolytic anemia is a well-recognized complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There are 4 possible causes for this complication. First, antibodies present in the recipient destroy donor cells. Second, donor red cell antibodies at the time of stem cell infusion are transferred to the recipient. Third, sometimes, engrafted donor lymphocytes cause active production of red cell antibodies. Fourth, another cause of hemolysis after allogeneic HSCT is autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). It is thought to be due to antibodies produced by the donor's immune system against antigens on red cells of donor origin. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia after allogeneic HSCT is rare, it is still not well characterized, and it represents a life-threatening situation. We describe 2 patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with intensive chemotherapy and umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation (UCBT). One patient developed AIHA at day +182 and the other at day +212 after receiving UCBT. Patients received 5 and 7 line treatment options, respectively, including continuous corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, splenectomy, cyclophosphamide, plasma exchange, rituximab, bortezomib, and eculizumab. However, both patients died because of massive hemolysis after 85 and 106 days of intensive treatment, respectively. These cases reflect the extreme difficulty in the therapeutic management of patients with AIHA following UCBT. After an extensive review of the literature, the exact physiopathologic mechanisms of AIHA after allogeneic HSCT in general, and after UCBT in particular, and therefore an effective treatment remain unknown.