Life‐Threatening Cytopenias in a Jehovah's Witness Following CD19‐Directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy

ABSTRACT Here we report on a Jehovah's Witness (JW) patient who experienced profound and prolonged life‐threatening cytopenias following CD19‐targeted CAR T cell therapy, successfully managed with bloodless medicine strategies. This case highlights the potential risks of CAR T therapy, even in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eJHaem
Main Authors: Corinne J. Shamehdi, Christian A. Gordillo, Ahmed Sawas, Rodney Macedo, Markus Y. Mapara, Ran Reshef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.70119
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Here we report on a Jehovah's Witness (JW) patient who experienced profound and prolonged life‐threatening cytopenias following CD19‐targeted CAR T cell therapy, successfully managed with bloodless medicine strategies. This case highlights the potential risks of CAR T therapy, even in patients without known hematotoxicity risk factors. By implementing tailored bloodless strategies, the patient received CAR T therapy without significant infectious, cardiac, or bleeding complications. Remarkably, they remain in remission 5 years later with normal blood counts. This underscores the viability of CAR T cell therapy for JW patients, emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection and risk‐benefit deliberation. Further research into severe cytopenias post‐CAR T therapy is critically needed. Trial Registration: The authors have confirmed clinical trial registration is not needed for this submission.
ISSN:2688-6146