title: Multiple cycles of rituximab therapy in chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenia: a case report with a 10-year follow-up.
abstract: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by isolated low platelet counts often leading to mucocutaneous bleeding. Administration of rituximab was shown to increase platelet counts in patients relapsing chronic ITP. However, duration of response with rituximab and the long-term benefit remains unknown. Herein, the authors presented a case of a 36-year-old splenectomised man with a relapsing ITP who received a total of 10 cycles of rituximab over the last decade with the concomitant assessments of circulating B cells. The data show that rituximab can be an effective therapy over 10 years, and monitoring B cells may help to herald ITP recurrence.
authors: Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Heath Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Bertrand
authors: B
authors: Routy
authors: Mohamed-Rachid
authors: MR
authors: Boulassel
authors: Gwendoline M
authors: GM
authors: Spurll
authors: Margaret N
authors: MN
authors: Warner
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Routy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069283:Rituximab; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab