Inflammatory Markers Significantly Increased in Patients Treated with Obinotuzumab for Lymphoproliferative Diseases

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the behaviors of inflammatory markers, such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP), during treatment with obinotuzumab (an anti-CD20 antibody). Methods: Our non-randomized observational study prospectively evaluated a cohort of 22 adult patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and follicular lymphoma (FL) with indications for obinotuzumab therapy. Results: All patients had their blood drawn to determine blood counts, CRP, and procalcitonin, as well as body temperature measurements and blood cultures performed for bacterial infections on day 0 before administration of the anti-CD20 antibody. Subsequently, on days 1 to 7 after administration, blood was drawn daily at a fixed time of 8:00 a.m. for blood counts and CRP and PCT values, and blood cultures were performed. In addition, on days 1 to 7, body temperature was measured at fixed times (i.e., 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.). In all of these patients, significant increases in inflammatory markers, such as CRP and procalcitonin, were observed shortly after drug infusion. There was a statistically significant change in the serum PCT concentration (p < 0.0001), which significantly increased on days 1 to 4 compared to the initial measurement 0. Conclusions: The increases in inflammatory markers shortly after obinotuzumab (anti-CD20 antibody) administration can be significantly high but are most often not related to the onset of infection and do not lead to any ill consequences in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disease.