[Successful salvage therapy with cladribine and rituximab for a patient with a relapsed Asian variant of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma]

Rinsho Ketsueki. 2006 Oct;47(10):1387-92.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The Asian variant of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (AIVL) is a rare aggressive lymphoma characterized by various clinical symptoms, hemophagocytic syndrome and predominant growth within vessels. We present a 73-year-old man with relapsed AIVL who had been treated with six courses of CHOP regimen. A half year later, he presented with high fever, sweat, dementia and hepatosplenomegaly without lymphadenopathy. A bone marrow biopsy showed prominent hemophagocytosis and immunological staining disclosed an augmented intrasinusal pattern of atypical large lymphocytes characteristic of the CD20+ and CD5+ phenotypes. As salvage therapy, CND-R (rituximab, cladribine, mitoxantrone, dexamethasone) was performed, and the clinical symptoms immediately and dramatically improved. Subsequently, CND-R therapy was repeated every 4 weeks. No serious adverse events were observed with the exception of grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 thrombocytopenia. After completion of the fifth course, a bone marrow biopsy pathologically confirmed complete remission, leading to termination of this therapy. The patient has remained in remission for more than 15 months. CND-R therapy, which is effective for indolent lymphoma, may be one of the candidates in salvage therapy for relapsed AIVL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cladribine / administration & dosage
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / classification
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Rituximab
  • Salvage Therapy*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / classification
  • Vascular Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Cladribine
  • Rituximab