Sirolimus in the Treatment of Refractory/Relapsed wAIHA

Summary

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare and heterogeneous disorder characterized by the destruction of red blood cells through warm or cold antibodies. Glucocorticoid (combined with rituximab) is the first-line treatment. However, the recurrence rate is very high and some patients may not respond to steroids. Second-line therapies include cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclophosphamide, rituximab, azathioprine, and even splenectomy. Our previous study of sirolimus in refractory/relapsed AIHA and ES found an effective rate of 80%. Therefore, the investigators plan to explore the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in the treatment of refractory/relapsed wAIHA.

Timeline

Start

2023-06-24

Primary completion

2025-12

Completion

2025-12

Publications

• Background Jager U, Barcellini W, Broome CM, Gertz MA, Hill A, Hill QA, Jilma B, Kuter DJ, Michel M, Montillo M, Roth A, Zeerleder SS, Berentsen S. Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in adults: Recommendations from the First International Consensus Meeting. Blood Rev. 2020 May;41:100648. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2019.100648. Epub 2019 Dec 5.
• Background Bass GF, Tuscano ET, Tuscano JM. Diagnosis and classification of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Autoimmun Rev. 2014 Apr-May;13(4-5):560-4. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2013.11.010. Epub 2014 Jan 11.
• Background Hill QA, Stamps R, Massey E, Grainger JD, Provan D, Hill A; British Society for Haematology. The diagnosis and management of primary autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2017 Feb;176(3):395-411. doi: 10.1111/bjh.14478. Epub 2016 Dec 22. No abstract available.
• Background Barcellini W, Fattizzo B. How I treat warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Blood. 2021 Mar 11;137(10):1283-1294. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019003808.
• Background Birgens H, Frederiksen H, Hasselbalch HC, Rasmussen IH, Nielsen OJ, Kjeldsen L, Larsen H, Mourits-Andersen T, Plesner T, Ronnov-Jessen D, Vestergaard H, Klausen TW, Schollkopf C. A phase III randomized trial comparing glucocorticoid monotherapy versus glucocorticoid and rituximab in patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2013 Nov;163(3):393-9. doi: 10.1111/bjh.12541. Epub 2013 Aug 24.
• Background Barcellini W, Fattizzo B, Zaninoni A, Radice T, Nichele I, Di Bona E, Lunghi M, Tassinari C, Alfinito F, Ferrari A, Leporace AP, Niscola P, Carpenedo M, Boschetti C, Revelli N, Villa MA, Consonni D, Scaramucci L, De Fabritiis P, Tagariello G, Gaidano G, Rodeghiero F, Cortelezzi A, Zanella A. Clinical heterogeneity and predictors of outcome in primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a GIMEMA study of 308 patients. Blood. 2014 Nov 6;124(19):2930-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2014-06-583021. Epub 2014 Sep 16.
• Background Bride KL, Vincent T, Smith-Whitley K, Lambert MP, Bleesing JJ, Seif AE, Manno CS, Casper J, Grupp SA, Teachey DT. Sirolimus is effective in relapsed/refractory autoimmune cytopenias: results of a prospective multi-institutional trial. Blood. 2016 Jan 7;127(1):17-28. doi: 10.1182/blood-2015-07-657981. Epub 2015 Oct 26.
• Background Li H, Ji J, Du Y, Huang Y, Gu H, Chen M, Wu R, Han B. Sirolimus is effective for primary relapsed/refractory autoimmune cytopenia: a multicenter study. Exp Hematol. 2020 Sep;89:87-95. doi: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.08.001. Epub 2020 Aug 6.
• Wang Q, Liu Z, Yang C, Li J, Chen M, Han B. Sirolimus for Refractory/relapsed Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Evans' syndrome: A Prospective Study. Blood Adv. 2026 Jun 9:bloodadvances.2026019844. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2026019844. Online ahead of print.

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Indications