Late onset neutropenia after rituximab and obinutuzumab treatment – characteristics of a class-effect toxicity. Issue 12 (15th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shimony, Shai; Bar-Sever, Einat; Berger, Tamar; Itchaki, Gilad; Gurion, Ronit; Yeshurun, Moshe; Lahav, Meir; Raanani, Pia; Wolach, Ofir
• Is Part Of: Leukemia & lymphoma. Volume 62:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2921
• Page End: 2927
• Publication Date: 2021-10-15
• Subjects: Late onset neutropenia -- rituximab -- obinutuzumab -- class-effect; Leukemia -- Periodicals; Lymphomas -- Periodicals; 616.99419
• DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1948037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-8194

Abstract

Abstract: Late onset neutropenia (LON) after rituximab is a previously described complication. We aimed to assess and characterize LON after obinutuzumab, a novel anti-CD20 antibody, in the real-world setting and compare it to LON after rituximab therapy. We retrospectively analyzed 330 consecutive patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms (rituximab-treated n = 283; obinutuzumab-treated n = 47). LON occurred in 23% patients with similar incidence in rituximab ( n = 66, 23%) or obinutuzumab ( n = 10, 21%) groups ( p = 0.853). Patients treated for CLL and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) were at higher risk to develop LON (multivariate analysis: HR for CLL − 6.62 CI 95% 1.33–32.92; HR for PTLD 15.82 CI 95% 2.04–122.4). Febrile neutropenia was uncommon during LON and occurred in 15 patients (4.5%; rituximab ( n = 14) and obinutuzumab ( n = 1). These data suggest that LON after obinutuzumab treatment is as common as with rituximab. The similarities in LON after rituximab and obinutuzumab argue for a possible class effect for anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.