Severe autoimmune pancytopenia after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Autoimmune pancytopenia is rarely seen with Hodgkin lymphoma, and only one pediatric case of pancytopenia after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been reported. We herein report a case of autoimmune pancytopenia that developed after autologous HSCT for nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). A 56-year-old Japanese woman underwent autologous HSCT for NLPHL. She developed autoimmune pancytopenia seven months after autologous HSCT. In this case, PSL was effective, and the blood cell counts normalized completely. However, the patient suffered from a fatal infection, probably because of immunosuppression caused by prolonged administration of PSL, as well as a history of several chemotherapies and autologous HSCT. To our knowledge, this is the first adult case of autoimmune pancytopenia after autologous HSCT for Hodgkin lymphoma. To further validate the optimal treatment strategy for autoimmune cytopenia after autologous HSCT, more cases are necessary.