title: [Efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for refractory/relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating patients with refractory and/or relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally three patients received rituximab as salvage therapy in our hospital. Rituximab was administered at a weekly dose of 375 mg/m(2) for 2 or 4 consecutive weeks. After clinical remission, patients were followed up every 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patients achieved complete remission. The median time to platelet count recovery was 7 days (4-12 days) after the first rituximab infusion. During the follow-up (median: 12 months; range: 9-18 months), no patients experienced relapse. No side effect was noted during treatment and follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapy with rituximab is effective and well tolerated for patients with refractory or relapsing TTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Tie-nan
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Nong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab