Mycobacterium haemophilum Infection after Alemtuzumab Treatment
2008

Mycobacterium haemophilum Infection after Alemtuzumab Treatment

Sample size: 2 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Kamboj Mini, Louie Eddie, Kiehn Timothy, Papanicolaou Genovefa, Glickman Michael, Sepkowitz Kent

Primary Institution: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Hypothesis

Is alemtuzumab treatment associated with infections caused by Mycobacterium haemophilum?

Conclusion

Mycobacterium haemophilum is identified as an opportunistic pathogen in patients treated with alemtuzumab.

Supporting Evidence

  • Patient 1 developed 20-30 tender nodular-ulcerative lesions after 3 months of alemtuzumab treatment.
  • Patient 2 developed 40-50 tender erythematous papular lesions approximately 3 months post bone marrow transplant with alemtuzumab.

Takeaway

Two patients developed skin infections after receiving a drug called alemtuzumab, which weakens the immune system.

Methodology

The study involved case reports of two patients with infections after alemtuzumab treatment, including clinical observations and laboratory tests.

Limitations

The study is based on only two case reports, limiting the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

One male patient aged 65 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and one female patient aged 17 with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3201/eid1411.071321

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