Vincristine-loaded platelet infusion for treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia and chronic immune thrombocytopenia: Rethinking old cures
✍ Scribed by Lev Shvidel; Erica Sigler; Mordechai Shtalrid; Alain Berrebi
- Book ID
- 101438418
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2006
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 80 KB
- Volume
- 81
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0361-8609
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✦ Synopsis
We report our experience with vincristine-loaded platelet infusion in patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and Evans syndrome. Ten patients with symptomatic thrombocytopenia and/ or hemolytic anemia who failed to respond to two to six different treatment modalities, including corticosteroids and splenectomy, were treated with infusion of vincristine-loaded platelets. Platelets were harvested by plateletpheresis from a healthy ABO compatible blood donor and incubated with 5 mg vincristine. Excess of vincristine was removed, and platelets were resuspended in 50 ml plasma and infused over 30 min. All 10 patients responded, and 6 of them achieved complete remission. The response was prompt, occurring 3-8 days after vincristine-loaded platelet infusion. Two patients with AIHA are still in remission 9 and 8 years posttreatment with no maintenance treatment. Three ITP patients achieved persisted partial response for 6 years, 5 years, and 11 months; in the remaining 5 patients the response lasted for 2-5 months. No side effects were seen. Our results suggest that this inexpensive and well-tolerated treatment modality may be a useful approach in patients with ITP and AIHA refractory to primary therapy.