Autoimmune cytopenias associated with malignancies and successfully treated with intravenous immune globulins: about two cases

The authors report on the cases of two adult male patients presenting with autoimmune cytopenias associated with malignancies: a case of autoimmune ha emolytic anemia occurring after remission of Hodgkin's disease and a case o f autoimmune neutropenia in the setting of renal carcinoma. High-dose intra venous immune globulins (IIG) administered after failure of corticosteroid therapy produced a rapid and long-lasting response. These cases illustrate that intravenous immunoglobulins may be helpful in refractory cases of auto immune cytopenias. The association of IIG and corticosteroid could be siner gistic and effective independently of the outcome of the underlying disease . The pathophysiogenic mechanisms and literature are discussed briefly.