[Use of rituximab in resistant thrombocytopenic purpura].

Background: immune thrombocytopenic purpura is characterized by bleeding disorders associated with decreased platelet count secondary to antiplatelet autoantibodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of rituximab in the management of refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Clinical Cases: four women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura unresponsiveness to standard therapy were evaluated in relation to clinical response and total platelets counts at different time intervals after rituximab administration. All four patients developed petechiae; two of them associated with ecchymosis, one with hematemesis and one more with transvaginal bleeding. The mean baseline platelet count was 5350/μL; in the 60th day after the first dose of rituximab the average was 175 250/μL. Complete remission was considered in three patients.

Conclusions: rituximab is a therapeutic option for refractory inmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety.