title: Efficacy of low-dose rituximab in combination with recombinant human thrombopoietin in treating ITP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work aims to observe the efficacy and safety of low-dose rituximab in combination with recombinant human thrombopoietin in treating immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen ITP patients were treated four times with 100 mg qw of rituximab in combination with 300 µg/kg/d ih recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) for 14 d. Platelet count in peripheral blood, serum immunoglobulin, and lymphocyte subgroups by flow cytometry were detected regularly both pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 14 patients, seven complete responses, six responses, and one no response were obtained, with an overall response of 93%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose rituximab in combination with rhTPO is effective in treating ITP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Qing-dao Central Hospital, Qing-dao, China. lyyycn@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H-R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C-L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000069283:Rituximab; D013926:Thrombopoietin