caa a22 4500 463256158 CHVBK 20180405153356.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170326e20071001xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00277-007-0335-1 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00277-007-0335-1 Low rate of long-lasting remissions after successful treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura with rituximab [Elektronische Daten] [Christof Schweizer, Frederic Reu, Anthony Ho, Manfred Hensel] Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura, is thought to be caused primarily by the production of autoantibodies directed against platelet surface glycoproteins. Treatment of an acute ITP episode can be difficult, and relapses are common. Recent studies have shown that the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab is effective in the treatment of relapsed and refractory patients. We report the results of a retrospective analysis of rituximab treatment in 14 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Nine of these patients had a refractory disease, and five patients had a relapse of the thrombocytopenia. The median time since last treatment was 10days (range 1-470days). All patients were previously treated with one to seven different regimens, and four had undergone splenectomy. Rituximab was administered at the standard dose of 375mg/m2 once per week with a median of 4 infusions (range 2-4). The overall response rate was 64%; 7 of 14 patients (50%) achieved a complete remission (platelet levels > 100 × 109/l), 2 of 14 patients (14%) had a partial remission (platelets > 50 × 109/l), and 5 patients did not respond. The median time to response was 2weeks (range 1-4) after the first infusion. Responding patients stayed in remission for a median period of 8weeks (range 10days-36months). Three patients (21%) remained in remission after 26 to 156weeks of follow-up. All of the four splenectomized patients achieved a complete remission after rituximab therapy, and two of them are still in remission after 26 and 156weeks observation. Our data confirm that rituximab is well tolerated and effective in refractory and relapsed immune thrombocytopenias; however, response duration was short, and only about one fifth of our patients enjoyed a long-lasting remission. Springer-Verlag, 2007 ITP nationallicence Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura nationallicence Rituximab nationallicence Anti-CD 20 nationallicence Splenectomy nationallicence Schweizer Christof Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut Reu Frederic Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut Ho Anthony Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut Hensel Manfred Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut Annals of Hematology Springer-Verlag 86/10(2007-10-01), 711-717 0939-5555 86:10<711 2007 86 277 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-007-0335-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-007-0335-1 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Schweizer Christof Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Reu Frederic Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Ho Anthony Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Hensel Manfred Department of Internal Medicine V, Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Annals of Hematology Springer-Verlag 86/10(2007-10-01), 711-717 0939-5555 86:10<711 2007 86 277 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer