title: The role of autoantibody-producing plasma cells in immune thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to rituximab.
abstract: Rituximab is becoming popular as a treatment for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). We report here a patient with ITP, who initially responded to rituximab, but later became refractory. In this patient, the appearance of plasma cells producing anti-platelet autoantibodies is likely to be one of the mechanisms for rituximab resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. kuwanam@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuwana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urabe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab