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Corticosteroids and rituximab as adjunctive treatments for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
George James N.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.23126
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura , adjunctive treatment , thrombocytopenic purpura , immunology , platelet , lymphoma
Although treatment with plasma exchange increased the survival of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura to 80% in the 1980s, no further increase of survival occurred over the next 20 years. However, more consistent use of adjuvant treatment with corticosteroids and rituximab in recent years has begun to further increase survival as well as decrease the frequency of relapse. With adjuvant treatment, durable remissions can be achieved more quickly, requiring fewer days of plasma exchange. Fewer days of plasma exchange have resulted in fewer complications, such as central venous catheter‐related systemic infections. Future potential options for adjuvant treatment, recombinant ADAMTS13 to correct severe ADAMTS13 deficiency, and agents to block von Willebrand factor‐mediated platelet thrombosis are being investigated. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.