Rituximab for Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia

Adding rituximab to dexamethasone for patients with newly diagnosed ITP improved treatment response but increased the rate of serious adverse events.

The American Society of Hematology's 2011 evidence-based practice guidelines recommend that the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab be considered for patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have failed previous treatment with corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, or splenectomy (JW Oncol Hematol Apr 12 2011). Also, a prior study indicated that adding rituximab to dexamethasone for patients with newly diagnosed ITP significantly improved the rate of sustained response after 6 months of treatment, although rituximab recipients seemed to experience more adverse effects and more often required supplemental therapy (JW Oncol Hematol May 18 2010).

Now, Danish investigators have conducted a larger, longer-term manufacturer-supported…

Reviewing Author

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis