Severe anemia caused by combination of autoimmune hemolysis, pure red cell aplasia and massive bone marrow infiltration in an elderly patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: successful treatment with rituximab

Abstract

Anemia is a frequent complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We report a case of an elderly CLL patient with severe anemia of combined etiology refractory to standard treatment who achieved a durable response to single-agent rituximab. 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.11.013

Keywords

• Severe anemia
• autoimmune hemolysis
• red cell aplasia
• bone marrow infiltration
• elderly patient
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• successful treatment
• rituximab