title: Monoclonal antibody Rituximab for severe immune thrombocytopenia after pegylated interferon for hepatitis C infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Severe immune thrombocytopenia displays a rare side effect of pegylated interferon therapy for Hepatitis C infection. Our aim is to report a case of severe and late onset immune thrombocytopenia due to pegylated interferon treatment that was effectively managed with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 27-year-old male, Hepatitis C infected patient, presented with sudden, severe immune thrombocytopenia at the end of a standard 24-week antiviral treatment, as a side effect of pegylated interferon. Platelet count rapidly normalized with Rituximab infusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab could be a valuable treatment option in pegylated interferon related immune thrombocytopenia, when patients are resistant to conventional treatment or when physicians are reluctant to administer corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.affiliation: Hematology Division, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poulakidas
keywords: HCV; Immune thrombocytopenia; Rituximab; pegylated interferon