PURE RED-CELL APLASIA FOLLOWING PERIPHERAL STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION - COMPLETE RESPONSE TO A SHORT-COURSE OF HIGH-DOSE RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN

We studied a patient who developed pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) follow ing peripheral stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Ser um erythropoietin was appropriate for the degree of anemia. Corticoste roid treatment was ineffective. Four months after transplantation rHuE po was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 150 U/Kg per day, five days a week for 8 weeks. Treatment induced an erythropoietic response and corrected anemia. Response was maintained following discontinuati on of rHuEpo. This study and previous reports indicate that high doses of rHuEpo given over a short time can resolve PRCA following autologo us or allogeneic stem cell transplantation.