Open AccessAchieving a satisfactory clinical and biochemical response in antiphospholipid syndrome and severe thrombocytopenia with rituximab: two case reports
Author(s) -
Gamoudi Donia,
Cutajar Melanie,
Gamoudi Nadia,
Camilleri David James,
Gatt Alex
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2050-0904
DOI - 10.1002/ccr3.946
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , splenectomy , antiphospholipid syndrome , thrombosis , platelet , autoantibody , immunology , antibody , gastroenterology , spleen
Key Clinical Message In AP syndrome (APS) with severe thrombocytopenia, rituximab represents a unique drug which can balance the effect of bleeding and thrombosis. By reducing the production of autoantibodies, rituximab can simultaneously raise the platelets and reduce the chance of thrombosis by suppressing APL antibodies. Rituximab can supersede splenectomy as second‐line therapy in similar patients.