The successful treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia with rituximab in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The most frequent autoimmune complication in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). There are various treatment modalities; however, there is not much experience with the use of the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in the autoimmune complications of CLL. Here, we present our patient with CLL and AIHA whose AIHA was unresponsive to various treatment modalities. The administration of 375 mg/m(2)/day rituximab weekly for four cycles halted hemolysis and resulted in resolution of the patient's anemia. One year after therapy, the patient is well with a normal blood count. Rituximab might be preferred over other treatment modalities in the autoimmune complications of CLL because it is effective and has fewer side effects than other therapies.