Castleman disease is a rare B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by lymph node enlargement with or without constitutional signs. Herein, we describe a unique patient with multicentric Castleman disease and retroviral infection who presented with a sudden onset of constitutional signs and was found to have severe warm-antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Rituximab monotherapy yielded an excellent clinical response. We aim to inform the medical community of this rare paraneoplastic phenomenon in patients with Castleman disease and its effective management. Prompt recognition of this entity may help avoid costly diagnostic workups, excessive blood transfusions, and lengthy hospital stays.
KleinWRencicAMunshiN, et al.Multicentric plasma cell variant of Castleman’s disease with cutaneous involvement. J Cutan Pathol2004; 31: 448–452.
2.
OcioESanchez-GuijoFDiez-CampeloM, et al.Efficacy of rituximab in an aggressive form of multicentric Castleman disease associated with immune phenomena. Am J Hematol2005; 78: 302–305.
3.
JohnsRDoyleTLipmanM, et al.Successful treatment of HIV-associated multicentric Castleman’s disease and multiple organ failure with rituximab and supportive care: a case report. J Med Case Rep2010; 4: 32–32.
4.
LiberatoNBollatiPChiofaloF, et al.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in multicentric Castleman’s disease. Haematologica1996; 81: 40–43.
5.
TajimaKYamamotoHSuzukiI, et al.Autoimmune hemolytic anemia with warm-reactive immunoglobulin M antibody in multicentric Castleman disease. Ann Hematol2013; 92: 849–851.
