Rituximab in Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia

The primary aim of the study is to assess the efficacy (overall response rate at 1 year) of rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) in AIHA due to warm autoantibody when administered at the initial phase of the disease. All eligible patents with a newly diagnosed AIHA (within 6 weeks after diagnosis) will be treated by corticosteroids at standard dose (prednisone 1 mg/kg/day) and will be randomized into 2 arms: Rituximab or placebo 1000 mg on days 1 and 15 in a 1/1 ratio. As soon as at least a partial remission (PR) of AIHA will be achieved, the daily dose of prednisone will be tapered following the rules provided by the protocol.

The hypothesis based on retrospective data is that, the rate of overall response-rate (PR + CR) at 1 year will be much higher in the rituximab arm (80%) than in the placebo arm (20%).Thirty four patients (17 in each arm) will be include (amendment n°6 - 15/10/2013) over a 3 year period (amendment n°3 - 11/12/2012).

Inclusion criteria

• Age > 18 years
• AIHA defined at time of diagnosis by a Hgb level £ 10 g/dL, with a reticulocytes count > 120 109/L, signs of hemolysis (at least a haptoglobin level < 4 mg/L), and a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) ( IgG or IgG + complement pattern).
• Disease duration equal or less than 6 weeks at time of inclusion --> removed by amendment n°4 and substituted by :First episode of AIHA to "hot" antibody previously untreated or treated corticosteroids for less than 6 weeks.
• Patients with an associated autoimmune thrombocytopenia (Evans' syndrome) will be eligible for the study if the platelet count is over 30 x 109/L at inclusion.
• Normal level gammaglobulins in the serum (i.e. >5g/L) at inclusion.
• Absence of detectable lymph nodes on a total body CT-scan (to be performed before inclusion if not performed at diagnosis).
• Effective means of contraception during treatment and for six months after completion of treatment for all women of child bearing age
• Negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to study entry.
• Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Previous treatment with rituximab

• AIHA diagnosed and treated more than 6 weeks prior to inclusion removed by amendment n°4 and substituted by AIHA relapsed or newly diagnosed but treated with corticosteroids for more than 6 weeks
• Ongoing immunosuppressive therapy (other than corticosteroids) or previous treatment administered within 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the study treatment
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) other than stage A chronic lymphoid leukemia
• Previous or concomitant malignancy other than basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix, or other malignancy for which the patient had not been disease-free for at least 5 years.
• Autoimmune disorder such as SLE with at least one extra-hematological manifestation requiring a treatment with steroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs.
• Any other associated cause congenital or acquired hemolytic anemia (except thalassemia trait or heterozygous sickle cell anemia).
• Negative DAT or DAT positive with isolated anti-C3d pattern related to the presence of a monoclonal IgM with cold agglutinin properties.
• Positive HIV test and/or hepatitis virus C infection and/or positive hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg).
• Neutrophils count < 1,000/mm 3 at inclusion.
• Impaired renal function as indicated by a serum creatinine level > 2 mg/d
• Inadequate liver function as indicated by a total bilirubin level > 2.0 mg/dL and/or an AST or ALT level > 2x upper limit of normal.
• New York Heart Classification III or IV heart disease.
• Previous history of severe psychiatric disorder or are unable to comply with study and follow-up procedures
• Pregnant or lactating women, or woman planning to become pregnant within 12 months of receiving study drug
• Absence of written informed consent.