title: [Role of rituximab in the management of refractory autoimmune cytopenia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the efficacy of rituximab in children with refractory autoimmune cytopenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal descriptive study comprising a series of clinical cases (n=7) during the period 2003 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A series 7 patients were included (4 had primary immune thrombocytopenia, 2 autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and 1 autoimmune neutropenia). One patient had received stem cell transplantation. Rituximab was administered intravenously to all patients at a dose of 375 mg/mg(2) weekly. Four patients received 4 doses. Three patients received 2, 6, and 8 doses, respectively. Overall, 5 patients responded (4 complete responses plus 1 partial response). The median time to achieve complete response was 8.5 weeks (range: 3.5-19.5 weeks). Two patients achieved complete response in the first 3.5 weeks, and the remaining 3 patients between 8.5 and 19.5 weeks. The median time of response was 35.5 weeks (range: 12.5-53.5 weeks). Two patients relapsed. No serious adverse events were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, seventy one percent of patients in this study respond to treatment, 100% of responders decrease their previous treatment. Rituximab was a well tolerated and no related serious side effects were recorded during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, España. vane_losa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Losa Frías
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García Sánchez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortiz Valentín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González Vicent
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Velasco Arribas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madero López
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sevilla Navarro
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab