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Very long‐term remission induced by short‐term rituximab monotherapy in a patient with heavily pretreated, chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
Clausen Michael R.,
Segel Erik,
Brandsborg Margrethe,
d′Amore Francesco
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2010.01561.x
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , thrombocytopenic purpura , refractory (planetary science) , immune thrombocytopenia , pediatrics , complete remission , immune system , immunology , platelet , chemotherapy , lymphoma , physics , astrobiology
The management of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) may be difficult. We describe a rapid‐onset very long‐term remission (9 years) induced by short‐term rituximab monotherapy in a 62‐year‐old man with treatment‐refractory chronic ITP. Over a 30‐year period from the original diagnosis to last follow‐up, the patient needed renewed treatment twelve times within the first two decades and was subsequently brought in continuous complete remission for the last decade by a single course of rituximab. The effect of rituximab in ITP has previously been described. However, in chronic, treatment‐refractory ITP occurring in elderly patients, remission rates tend to be low and of short duration.