Epoetin-induced pure red cell aplasia successfully treated with androgens

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a severe, non-regenerative form of anaemia, with selective erythroid aplasia of the bone marrow. It appears as a severe complication of treatment for anaemia of end-stage renal insufficiency with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. There is no definite treatment. We described for the first time a patient with chronic renal failure and antibody-mediated PRCA successfully treated with androgens.