Haematologica (Jun 2008)

Lower dose rituximab is active in adults patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

  • Francesco Zaja,
  • Marta Lisa Battista,
  • Maria Teresa Pirrotta,
  • Salvatore Palmieri,
  • Michela Montagna,
  • Nicola Vianelli,
  • Luciana Marin,
  • Margherita Cavallin,
  • Monica Bocchia,
  • Marzia Defina,
  • Micaela Ippoliti,
  • Felicetto Ferrara,
  • Francesca Patriarca,
  • Maria Antonietta Avanzini,
  • Mario Regazzi,
  • Michele Baccarani,
  • Miriam Isola,
  • Franca Soldano,
  • Renato Fanin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.12206
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 93, no. 6

Abstract

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Rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly for four weeks has significant activity in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. We evaluated the activity of lower dose rituximab (100 mg iv weekly for 4 weeks) in 28 adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Overall (platelet count > 50×109/L) and complete responses (platelet count > 100×109/L) were achieved in 21/28 (75%) and 12/28 (43%) patients respectively. The median time to response and time to complete response were 31 and 44 days respectively. After a median follow-up of 11 months (range 3–18), 7/21 (33%) patients relapsed and 3 needed further treatments. In patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, lower dose rituximab seems to show similar activity to standard dose.