Immune pancytopenia after chemotherapy in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

During treatment for malignant lymphoma, cytopenia can develop for several reasons. In the treatment of cytopenia, various possibilities should be considered because inadequate treatment causes exacerbation of cytopenia and can lead to fatal conditions, such as infection and bleeding. Herein, we describe immune pancytopenia 3 months after the last exposure to chemotherapy in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). She suffered from severe pancytopenia after two courses of rituximab and bendamustine therapy for a second relapse of DLBCL. Immune pancytopenia was diagnosed with bone marrow tests and the presence of autoantibodies; it promptly resolved after initiation of prednisolone therapy. Clinicians should be aware of immune cytopenia and monitor for it carefully, even if patients have already finished chemotherapy treatment.