Rituximab (Ritux) Maintenance Infusions in Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) to Prolong Remission Following Relapse after Initial Ritux Induction but Responded to a Second Course

Discussion: The expectation for these 17 very difficult to treat pts was that they would have all relapsed in 1 year or less following a "routine" ritux re-induction based on past data and clinical experience. The number of pts reported who achieved lasting remission following a second or third course of ritux is very small. Dex was added to reinduction in 5 of these multiply-induced pts, but curative effects occur only in female pts treated within 1 year of diagnosis, and these were pts with years of disease so this would not explain the results. Being able to achieve lasting remission over many years in half this group appears to be a significant improvement on their expected outcomes. Hypogammaglobulinemia became clinically significant in 1 pt who stopped coming for checkups; it has been reported primarily with the combination of dex-ritux but even then in only 10% of patients. A randomized controlled trial is needed to test these exciting findings.Figure.DisclosuresBussel: Prophylix: Consultancy, Research Funding; Momenta: Consultancy; Rigel: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Uptodate: Honoraria; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Protalex: Consultancy.
Source: Blood - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: 311. Disorders of Platelet Number or Function: Poster III Source Type: research