title: Very long-term remission induced by short-term rituximab monotherapy in a patient with heavily pretreated, chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: The management of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) may be difficult. We describe a rapid-onset very long-term remission (9 years) induced by short-term rituximab monotherapy in a 62-year-old man with treatment-refractory chronic ITP. Over a 30-year period from the original diagnosis to last follow-up, the patient needed renewed treatment twelve times within the first two decades and was subsequently brought in continuous complete remission for the last decade by a single course of rituximab. The effect of rituximab in ITP has previously been described. However, in chronic, treatment-refractory ITP occurring in elderly patients, remission rates tend to be low and of short duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000-Aarhus C, Denmark. michclau@rm.dk
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Segel
authors.forename: Margrethe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandsborg
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: d'Amore
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D017634:Self Tolerance; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab