title: [Use of rituximab in resistant thrombocytopenic purpura].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  immune thrombocytopenic purpura is characterized by bleeding disorders associated with decreased platelet count secondary to antiplatelet autoantibodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of rituximab in the management of refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
  
  
  METHODS
  four women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura unresponsiveness to standard therapy were evaluated in relation to clinical response and total platelets counts at different time intervals after rituximab administration. All four patients developed petechiae; two of them associated with ecchymosis, one with hematemesis and one more with transvaginal bleeding. The mean baseline platelet count was 5350/μL; in the 60th day after the first dose of rituximab the average was 175 250/μL. Complete remission was considered in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rituximab is a therapeutic option for refractory inmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología, División de Medicina Interna, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zambrano-Velarde
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de la O-Peña
authors.forename: Quetzalcóatl
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chávez-Peña
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedolla-Barajas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab