title: Long-term follow-up of idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura treated with rituximab.
abstract: Rituximab may be used to treat patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) refractory to plasma exchange or recurrent disease. While initial response rates are reported to be high, long-term follow-up data of patients treated with rituximab are not available to date, however important to estimate the safety and benefit of this treatment. Twelve patients with non-familial idiopathic TTP refractory to plasma exchange or with recurrent disease treated with rituximab between 2000 and 2008 were reexamined. The median follow-up was 49.6 months, ranging from 11 to 97 months. All patients achieved initial complete remission after application of rituximab. During follow-up, nine patients remained disease-free and three patients suffered from recurrent disease. All patients with recurrent disease responded to subsequent rituximab therapy. No long-term side effects were noted during the follow-up period. In conclusion, rituximab represents an effective second-line treatment option in relapsing or refractory TTP. Still, patients need to be closely monitored for relapses with extended follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Germany. jens.chemnitz@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Jens Marcus
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chemnitz
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uener
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallek
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheid
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human