Typhlitis as a complication of alemtuzumab therapy

Haematologica. 2007 May;92(5):e62-3. doi: 10.3324/haematol.11440.

Abstract

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against lymphocytes through the CD-52 receptor, an antigen being found on > 95% of peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes, and to a smaller extent on granulocytes. It is an effective immunotherapeutic agent in patients with malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and T cell pro- lymphocytic leukemia. Adverse side effects are increasingly recognized in patients receiving alemtuzumab, mainly including fever, rigors, nausea/vomiting, skin rash; other severe alemtuzumab-related reactions have also been described, such as lymphopenia and neutropenia leading to both opportunistic (e.g. cytomegalovirus) and non-opportunistic infections. Digestive complications have more rarely been described, i.e.: gastroenteritis and peritonitis. We recently observed a case of particular interest as the patient with T cell prolymphocytic leukaemia treated with alemtuzumab, exhibited symptomatic reactivation of CMV infection and developed subsequently typhlitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / immunology
  • Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / therapy
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / immunology
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Typhlitis / diagnosis*
  • Typhlitis / etiology*
  • Typhlitis / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Alemtuzumab