Splenectomy induced complete remission in a patient with multicentric Castleman's disease and autoimmune hemolytic anemia

• Published in: Annals of hematology Vol. 78; no. 4; pp. 193 - 196
• Main Authors: LERZA, R, CASTELLO, G, TRUINI, M, BALLARINO, P, TREDICI, S, CAVALLINI, D, PANNACCIULLI, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-04-1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anemia; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune - complications; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Castleman Disease - complications; Castleman Disease - immunology; Castleman Disease - surgery; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Hematologic involvement in other diseases; Remission Induction; Splenectomy; Human; Immunopathology; Benign lymphadenopathy; Autoimmune disease; Male; Hemopathy; Case study; Splenectomy; Hemolytic anemia; Treatment; Surgery; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Total; Adult; Complication; Remission; Castleman lymphoma
• ISSN: 0939-5555; 1432-0584
• DOI: 10.1007/s002770050500

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare disorder of the lymphoid tissue in which the clinical manifestations often mimic a malignant lymphoma. Despite the absence of monoclonality of the lymphoid proliferation, the multicentric variant of the disease (MCD) is characterized by severe symptoms and poor prognosis. Etiologic, pathogenetic, and therapeutic aspects of MCD are still uncertain. We report the case of a 57-year-old patient affected by MCD complicated by severe immunohemolytic anemia. Whereas the clinical and laboratory response to steroids and chemotherapeutic agents was only partial, splenectomy induced a complete remission of hemolysis and disappearance of the constitutional symptoms and of all generalized lymphadenopathies.