title: Successful treatment of autoimmune hepatitis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with the monoclonal antibody, rituximab: case report and review of literature.
abstract: Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, has shown activity in several autoimmune disorders. We describe a case of a 52 years old female who was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and concomitant autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), both non-responsive to steroids. She was subsequently treated with rituximab, which resulted in a rapid increase in her platelet count and an unexpected normalization of her hepatic biochemical tests. Both her platelet count and her hepatic biochemical tests remained normal for over 5 months. In this case, rituximab showed an impressive clinical response for the treatment of AIH, and it may be considered as an alternative treatment in patients who do not respond to corticosteroid therapy. Prospective randomized studies in AIH are needed to validate this observation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. edgardo_ny@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Edgardo S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Leopoldo R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Arosemena
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Raez
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regev
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab