Haematologica (Mar 2008)

High dose methylprednisolone and rituximab is an effective therapy in advanced refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia resistant to fludarabine therapy

  • Moez Dungarwalla,
  • Steve O. Evans,
  • Unell Riley,
  • Daniel Catovsky,
  • Clare E. Dearden,
  • Estella Matutes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.11903
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 93, no. 3

Abstract

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The combination of high dose methylprednisolone and rituximab induces superior overall (93%) and complete (14%) response rates compared to high dose methylprednisolone alone (overall 43%, complete remission 0%) in heavily pre-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with advanced disease. Despite its efficacy the combination is not easily manageable because of the high rate of opportunistic infections.