Successful treatment of refractory immune thrombocytopenia with rituximab in a 10-week-old infant

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2013 May;35(4):e174-7. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e31828308be.

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) that is unresponsive to conventional treatment is uncommon. In this situation, additional therapeutic options are limited and management is challenging. We describe the case of a 10-week-old infant that developed life-threatening ITP that was unresponsive to immunoglobulin and corticosteroids that was successfully managed with the monoclonal antibody rituximab. The literature on the use of rituximab in nonresponsive ITP is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / diagnosis
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • Rituximab

Substances

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