Pure Red Cell Aplasia Following Neoadjuvant Docetaxel/Carboplatin/Trastuzumab (TCbH) in a 45‑Year‑Old Woman With Breast Cancer Successfully Treated With Cyclosporine.
Yuanyuan Chen, Fang Chen, Rongkui Luo et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 45-year-old woman with HER2-positive breast cancer developed pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) after neoadjuvant treatment with docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab. Following the sixth cycle, she experienced severe anemia unresponsive to erythropoietin, leading to a diagnosis of PRCA after bone marrow examination. Treatment with cyclosporine resulted in complete hematologic remission within 7 weeks, and she remained stable at 4.5 years follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The development of PRCA following neoadjuvant TCbH therapy is an extremely rare complication, highlighting the need for awareness of this potential adverse effect.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider bone marrow examination in patients with progressive anemia and reticulocytopenia after chemotherapy, as it may reveal rare complications like PRCA.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of monitoring for severe hematologic complications in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which can significantly impact treatment outcomes.