Activity and safety profile of low-dose rituximab for the treatment of autoimmune cytopenias in adults

Haematologica. 2007 Dec;92(12):1695-8. doi: 10.3324/haematol.11709.

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 11 consecutive patients with various autoimmune cytopenias who failed to respond to conventional treatments and received a fixed-dose regimen of rituximab (100 mg weekly for 4 consecutive weeks). Sustained complete responses were achieved in 4 out of 7 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and in 1 patient with autoimmune pancytopenia. A partial response was observed in 1 patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The immunotherapy had no effect in 1 patient with pure red cell aplasia or in 1 patient with autoimmune neutropenia. No infusion-related or delayed toxicities attributable to rituximab were experienced by any of the patients.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / drug therapy*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / administration & dosage*
  • London
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy*
  • Pancytopenia / drug therapy*
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / drug therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rituximab
  • Rome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab