Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) therapy may be associated with severe complications such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, peptic ulcers, infection, and some other diseases. To reduce those effects, we used low-dose rituximab, bortezomib and dexamethasone (LowR-BD regimen) to treat AIHA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this regimen. Seven patients with warm AIHA (wAIHA) admitted from March 2020 to October 2020 were treated with LowR-BD regimen: Rituximab 100 mg by intravenous infusion on day 1 combined with bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 by subcutaneous injection on day 2 plus dexamethasone 20 mg by intravenous infusion on days 2, 3. Clinical efficacy and safety were assessed at the regular reexamination of relevant indicators and follow-up. After 4 cycles of the LowR-BD regimen, the overall response rate (ORR) was 85.71% with a complete response (CR) of 28.57% and a partial response (PR) of 57.14%. After a median follow-up of 12 (range 7–13) months, 5 patients achieved CR and 2 patients had PR status, including 1 patient who did not respond to LowR-BD treatment and reached CR after using methylprednisolone combined with cyclophosphamide. One patient relapsed and achieved PR after retreatment of 2 cycles LowR-BD regimen. The patients tolerated the treatment well and did not complain of apparently adverse reactions except a patient with Sjogren's syndrome and bronchiectasis who developed a severe infection during treatment. Low-dose rituximab combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone is effective and relatively safe in patients with wAIHA.

Primary bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is rare, and only a few cases have been reported. Fever and arthralgia as the initial symptom are extremely rare; however, awareness must be made of this presentation. The current study describes the clinical and pathological findings of a 41-year-old man affected by fever and arthralgia. Blood tests revealed leukopenia and anemia. Multiple bone marrow biopsies were conducted and confirmed the diagnosis of primary bone marrow DLBCL. Primary bone marrow DLBCL is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed subset of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The current case demonstrates that utility of bone marrow biopsy for diagnosis should not be ignored, and that repeated bone marrow punctures in multiple locations may be necessary.