Abstract
We report on two patients with chemoresistant B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia who were treated successfully with the monoclonal anti-CD 20 antibody rituximab. Both patients suffered from severe thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusions over a period of several months. Neither chemotherapy nor immunosuppressive agents (corticoids, immunoglobulins) were effective. After four doses of rituximab (375 mg/m2 weekly), both patients recovered within a few weeks to hematological partial remission. One patient was re-treated successfully three times after relapses. Both patients were premedicated with prednisone (100 mg) 30 min prior to the infusion to prevent cytokine release and the antibody infusions were well tolerated.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 5 May 1999 / Accepted: 18 October 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Herold, M., Schulze, A., Härtwig, K. et al. Successful treatment and re-treatment of resistant B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with the monoclonal anti-CD 20 antibody rituximab. Ann Hematol 79, 332–335 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002779900141
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002779900141