Use of rituximab for refractory cytopenias associated with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)

V Koneti Rao, Susan Price, Katie Perkins, Patricia Aldridge, Jean Tretler, Joie Davis, Janet K Dale, Fred Gill, Kip R Hartman, Linda C Stork, David J Gnarra, Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, Peter E Newburger, Jennifer Puck, Thomas Fleisher, V Koneti Rao, Susan Price, Katie Perkins, Patricia Aldridge, Jean Tretler, Joie Davis, Janet K Dale, Fred Gill, Kip R Hartman, Linda C Stork, David J Gnarra, Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, Peter E Newburger, Jennifer Puck, Thomas Fleisher

Abstract

Background: ALPS is a disorder of apoptosis resulting in accumulation of autoreactive lymphocytes, leading to marked lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and multilineage cytopenias due to splenic sequestration and/or autoimmune destruction often presenting in childhood. We summarize our experience of rituximab use during the last 8 years in 12 patients, 9 children, and 3 adults, out of 259 individuals with ALPS, belonging to 166 families currently enrolled in studies at the National Institutes of Health.

Methods: Refractory immune thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20,000) in nine patients and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in three patients led to treatment with rituximab. Among them, seven patients had undergone prior surgical splenectomy; three had significant splenomegaly; and two had no palpable spleen.

Results: In seven out of nine patients with ALPS and thrombocytopenia, rituximab therapy led to median response duration of 21 months (range 14-36 months). In contrast, none of the three children treated with rituximab for AIHA responded. Noted toxicities included profound and prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia in three patients requiring replacement IVIG, total absence of antibody response to polysaccharide vaccines lasting up to 4 years after rituximab infusions in one patient and prolonged neutropenia in one patient.

Conclusion: Toxicities including hypogammaglobulinemia and neutropenia constitute an additional infection risk burden, especially in asplenic individuals, and may warrant avoidance of rituximab until other immunosuppressive medication options are exhausted. Long-term follow-up of ALPS patients with cytopenias after any treatment is necessary to determine relative risks and benefits.

(c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
This schematic diagram is included only as a suggested guideline for managing children with ALPS associated autoimmune multilineage cytopenias. Use of G-CSF may be warranted for severe neutropenia associated with systemic infections. Similarly use of other chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive agents*(e.g. vincristine, methotrexate, mercaptopurine, azathioprine, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, tacrolimus, sirolimus) besides mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) should be considered as a steroid sparing measure; or while avoiding or postponing surgical splenectomy at the discretion of the treating clinicians based on the circumstances of a specific patient.

Source: PubMed

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