Efficacy of rituximab in autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with splenic marginal zone lymphoma

Abstract

Autoimmune manifestations including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) are often described in association with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) [1]. Moreover, AIHA has been recently reported as a potential risk factor of poor outcome for SMZL patients [2]. Among the different available therapeutic options, rituximab monotherapy has been recently shown to be extremely effective in SMZL [3]. On the other hand, this monoclonal antibody plays a key role in the treatment of steroid-refractory AIHA [4]. More specifically, although rituximab has been recently included among the possible strategies to treat AIHA secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia [5], very few cases describing its use in the course of SMZL-related AIHA have been described so far [6]