An unforeseen reality : hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following alemtuzumab treatment for a multiple sclerosis

Blagotinšek Ošep, Anka (author), Brecl, Eva (author), Škerget, Matevž (author), Savšek, Lina (author)

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody indicated for treatment of highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (HA-RRMS). It binds to CD52 antigen and produces a rapid and prolonged lymphocyte depletion followed by a different pattern of T and B cell repopulation. Among others, its adverse events are autoimmune diseases. In this article, we present a patient with HA-RRMS, who was subsequently treated with alemtuzumab and afterwards developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Albeit rarely, HLH can be triggered by alemtuzumab treatment. HLH can favourably respond to prompt immunosuppressant therapy. Multidisciplinary approach by a team consisting of a neurology, hematology and rheumatology specialist is needed to treat this potentially lethal condition.

• Language: English
• Keywords: multiple sclerosis, alemtuzumab, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, side effects, neuroimmunology, drug therapy, adverse effects
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.03 - Short Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 3 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 228, art. 107675
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148285
• UDC: 616.8
• ISSN on article: 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107675
• COBISS.SI-ID: 154225155
• Publication date in RUL: 09.08.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1872-6968
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518749209

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: multipla skleroza, terapija z zdravili, alemtuzumab, škodljivi učinki, hemofagocitna limfohistiocitoza