Vol 1, No 4 (2010)
Case report
Published online: 2010-11-24
Efficacy of bendamustine combined with rituximab in the treatment of relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Hematologia 2010;1(4):359-363.
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia diagnosed in
adults in Western Europe and Northern America. Despite the progress in CLL therapy it still
remains incurable. CLL is primarily a disease of the elderly, most patients are aged over
65 years and have at least 2 co-morbidities. A large proportion of patients are therefore not
suitable for intensive chemotherapy. In treating older patients with CLL, not only treatment
benefits but also toxicities need to be taken into account. Phase II study results showed that
bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) was safe and effective in the treatment of refractory/relapsed CLL. We present a patient with relapsed disease, with infectious complications after
previous purine analogues, and who achieved a complete remision after therapy with BR
protocol.
Hematologia 2010; 1, 4: 359-363
Hematologia 2010; 1, 4: 359-363
Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemiatreatmentbendamustinerituximab