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Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy following treatment with bendamustine and rituximab

International Journal of Hematology volume 96, pages 274–278 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

A 66-year-old female developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) 17 months after treatment with bendamustine and rituximab chemoimmunotherapy. During her evaluation for PML, she was found to have a CD4 count of 176 cells/μL (reference range 492–1740). The patient demonstrated spontaneous recovery of symptoms that occurred in parallel with recovery of the CD4 counts. While PML is associated with rituximab therapy, the timing and patients’ clinical course are atypical, raising the possibility of a previously unreported association with bendamustine therapy.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Sean Warsch & Izidore S. Lossos

  2. Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1475 NW 12th Ave. D8-4, Miami, FL, USA

    Peter J. Hosein & Izidore S. Lossos

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Michele I. Morris

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Uygar Teomete

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Ronald Benveniste

  6. Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Jennifer R. Chapman

  7. Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, USA

    Izidore S. Lossos

Authors
  1. Sean Warsch
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  2. Peter J. Hosein
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  3. Michele I. Morris
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  4. Uygar Teomete
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  5. Ronald Benveniste
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  6. Jennifer R. Chapman
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  7. Izidore S. Lossos
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Correspondence to Izidore S. Lossos.

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Warsch, S., Hosein, P.J., Morris, M.I. et al. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy following treatment with bendamustine and rituximab. Int J Hematol 96, 274–278 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-012-1118-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-012-1118-6

Keywords

  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
  • Mantle cell lymphoma
  • Rituximab
  • Bendamustine