title: Rituximab is effective for selected patients with chronic steroid-refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: We report results of Rituximab therapy in four patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refractory to 3-8 prior therapeutic regimens. Rituximab was administered at a dose of 375 mg/m2 once weekly for 4-6 weeks. Three out of four patients achieved a complete remission (rise to platelet count above 100,000/microl). Response duration was 4, 16+, and 11+ months. Rituximab was well tolerated but one patient (a 77 year-old male) developed two serious infections, pneumonia and a hepatic abscess, at 2 and 4 months. We conclude that Rituximab is effective in patients with refractory ITP; nevertheless, careful patient selection is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrisavgi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lalayanni
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stavroyianni
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saloum
authors.forename: Aliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsompanakou
authors.forename: Achilles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab