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In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis
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Published on: May 4, 2017

Rituximab treatment for symptomatic chronic ITP

Rienk Y J Tamminga1, Marrie C A Bruin

  • 1Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. r.y.j.tamminga@bkk.umcg.nl

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|August 26, 2006
PubMed

About 20% of the children diagnosed with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) will run a chronic course. Only in a minority of these, platelet-count-enhancing treatments are indicated. Most treatment options are directed at decreasing platelet destruction including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, splenectomy, and other immunosuppressive or immune modulating drugs. In children, rituximab seems to have similar efficacy as in adults with a lasting continuous remission rate of 30-35%. Toxicity includes fever, pruritus, throat tightness, and serum sickness that may be reason to discontinue rituximab treatment. No increased frequency of infections is noted. We conclude that rituximab should be given to those symptomatic ITP patients who would otherwise be referred for splenectomy; only those who fail rituximab treatment should proceed to surgery.

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