title: Rituximab provided long-term remission in a patient with refractory relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: We describe a 69-year-old man with refractory relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) successfully treated with rituximab. The patient had once been successfully treated with plasmapheresis and vincristine, but he had relapsed after a short period. Although plasmapheresis, vincristine, and splenectomy could not achieve a consistent elevation of the platelet count, rituximab administration provided sustained remission for more than 7 months. Rituximab should be considered as a therapeutic alternative for refractory TTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Toyonaka Municipal Hospital, 1-14-1, Shibahara-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8565, Japan. gustav-k@syd.odn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosugi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Take
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishizashi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuyama
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000276:immunology; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000069283:Rituximab; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human