Successful treatment of pure red cell aplasia with autologous stem cell transplantation

We report a case of 64-year-old patient with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) who was intolerant of conventional immunosuppressive therapies but achieved a complete long-term remission following autologous hematologic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The patient was initially treated with high-dose prednisone, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, antithymocyte globulin, and then rituximab. With the exception of rituximab, all of the above regimens achieved a transient response. However, because of the persistent requirement for red blood cell transfusions and intolerance to the multiple immunosuppressive therapies, autologous HSCT was eventually performed. The patient remains in complete remission and on no other therapy for 36 months following the autologous HSCT.