Klepfish A et al. - Adding fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to rituximab (RTX) may provide a useful therapeutic option in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) resistant to treatment. Methods
Study to examine whether providing administration of FFP will enhance the effect of RTX in CLL
5 pts with severe treatment-resistant CLL
All had been previously treated with fludarabine and 3 also failed treatment with RTX
2 units of FFP followed with RTX 375 mg/m2 as a single agent, repeated every 1–2 wks, as needed
Results
A rapid and dramatic clinical and laboratory response was achieved in all pts
Lymphocyte counts dropped followed by shrinkage of lymph nodes and spleen and improvement of the anaemia and thrombocytopenia
This could be maintained over 8 mos with additional cycles if necessary
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