ABSTRACT
The association between lymphoproliferate malignancies, especially lymphoma, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been confirmed by several studies. However; there are few reports of RA patients who developed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and vice versa. We report a patient with B-CLL who developed RA and another with RA who presented with B-CLL during follow-up. We discuss the incidence of B-CLL among the RA population and the possible interaction of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these two entities.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications , Leukemia, B-Cell/complications , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology , Chronic Disease , Female , Greece/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Leukemia, B-Cell/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , OutpatientsABSTRACT
Following the administration of the human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody IDEC-C2B8 (rituximab), a 31-year-old woman with B-prolymphocytic leukemia, who had been resistant to CHOP, fludarabine, pentostatin and 2-CdA, achieved complete remission. Rituximab was administered intravenously once a week for 4 weeks. The patient only had mild but tolerable side effects during the first cycle of therapy. She remains in complete remission 8 months following the discontinuation of treatment.
