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 haemolytic anemia occurring after remission of Hodgkin's disease and a case of autoimmune neutropenia in the setting of renal carcinoma. High-dose intravenous 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 autoimmune cytopenias. The association of IIG and corticosteroid could be synergistic and effective independently of the outcome of the underlying disease. The pathophysiogenic mechanisms and literature are discussed briefly.