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Rituximab in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). A prospective study was performed at Mubarak Al-Kabeer University Hospital involving the use of rituximab in 14 patients who had previously been treated with steroids, steroid sparing drugs, and splenectomy. Several variables have been collected and analyzed including age, gender, treatment received prior to rituximab, co-morbid condition, platelet count before treatment, response to treatment, duration of response, relapses, response to re-treatment, and adverse effects. Of the 14 treated patients, complete remission was achieved in 11 patients, partial remission in two patients, and no response in one patient. Median duration of responses were 12.5 months, ranging from 2 to 19 months. Four patients had at least one relapse. Responses were seen in splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of ITP in the Middle East area. Our findings support the result of other case reports, case series, and pilot studies; however, a randomized control trial is needed to confirm the results of our study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital–Ministry of Health-Kuwait, Jabriya, Kuwait

    Kholood Alasfoor & Mona Alrasheed

  2. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Faisal Alsayegh

  3. The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany, NY, USA

    Shaker A. Mousa

  4. Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA

    Shaker A. Mousa

Authors
  1. Kholood Alasfoor
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  2. Mona Alrasheed
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  3. Faisal Alsayegh
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  4. Shaker A. Mousa
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Correspondence to Shaker A. Mousa.

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Alasfoor, K., Alrasheed, M., Alsayegh, F. et al. Rituximab in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Ann Hematol 88, 239–243 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-008-0574-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-008-0574-9

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