Maintenence rituximab following induction in autoimmune cytopenias.

Abstract

About 50% of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients respond to rituximab induction, but most relapse. The effectiveness of rituximab maintenance remains untested. This study included autoimmune cytopenia patients who had previously responded to rituximab induction but subsequently relapsed. After re-induction, patients received rituximab maintenance regimen consisting of a single 375 mg/m2 dose administered at 4 month intervals, with a maximum of 6 doses. Primary endpoints were duration of response and safety. Sixteen patients: ITP (9), autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (2), and Evans syndrome (5) received rituximab maintenance. 15/16 achieved complete response (CR); 8/15 CR + 1 partial reponse remain in remission. Median response: 43 months; estimated 5-year relapse-free >50%. Three developed hypogammaglobulinemia. Rituximab maintenance led to prolonged remissions in patients with autoimmune cytopenias who had previously responded to rituximab induction.

• Authors: Manoj P Rai, Eun-Ju Lee, James B Bussel
• Journal: British journal of haematology (Br J Haematol) Vol. 202 Issue 1 Pg. 153-158 (07 2023) ISSN: 1365-2141 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 37086173 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Rituximab

Topics

• Humans
• Rituximab (adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome
• Retrospective Studies
• Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune (drug therapy)
• Thrombocytopenia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic (drug therapy)
• Remission Induction
• Recurrence