Sturm I, Oertel J, Oertel S, Westermann J, Pezzutto A
Succesful long-term monotherapy with rituximab in a chemotherapy-refractory patient with chronic B-CLL: a case report. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
J Med Case Reports 2008 Aug 14; 2(1):275.
ABSTRACT:
INTRODUCTION: Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage is strongly based upon clinical staging because of the heterogeneous clinical course of this disease.
CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 62-year-old patient with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage who did not respond to several chemotherapy regimens including chlorambucil, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, developing a marked neutropenia and thrombocytopenia with life-threatening infections. Further chemotherapy appeared not feasible because of bone marrow toxicity. The patient was treated with 600mg/m2 rituximab weekly followed by eight courses of biweekly therapy and then by long-term maintenance therapy, achieving almost complete remission of the symptoms and disease control.
CONCLUSIONS: After resistance to standard chemotherapy with chlorambucil and fludarabine, a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia of the B-cell-lineage was successfully treated with rituximab.
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