Successful use of anti-CD20 (rituximab) in severe, life-threatening childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombocytopenia with life-threatening hemorrhage in childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura is rare, but effective therapeutic options are limited for the patient with bleeding. We report the efficacy of humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab, Rituxan) therapy for an infant with severe, refractory life-threatening immune thrombocytopenic purpura.