Fatal adenovirus infection during alemtuzumab (anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody) treatment of a patient with fludarabine-refractory B-CELL chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Authors: Cavalli-Björkman, Nina¹; Ösby, Eva¹; Lundin, Jeanette¹; Kalin, Mats²; Österborg, Anders¹; Gruber, Astrid³

Source: Medical Oncology, Volume 19, Number 4, December 2002 , pp. 277-280(4)

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Abstract:

Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) is a humanized CD52 monoclonal antibody that targets normal as well as malignant B- and T-lymphocytes. Alemtuzumab has significant antitumor activity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) but also induces immunosuppression. We describe a case of fatal adenovirus infection in a heavily pretreated patient with fludarabine-refractory B-CLL receiving alemtuzumab therapy, drawing attention to the fact that also viruses other than cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex (HSV) need to be considered in B-CLL patients with fever of unknown origin while on alemtuzumab treatment.

Keywords: Adenovirus; alemtuzumab; Campath-1H; chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1385/MO:19:4:277

Affiliations: 1: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, 2: Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, 3: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, Email: astrid.gruber@ks.se

Publication date: 2002-12-01