New thrombocytopenic purpura therapy research from University of Bern outlined
2007 NOV 19 -- Researchers detail in 'Rituximab for acute plasma-refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A case report and concise review of the literature,' new data in thrombocytopenic purpura. "Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disease which responds well to plasma exchange treatment in the majority of patients. We report on a patient with acute TTP caused by severe autoantibody-mediated ADAMTS-13 deficiency, in whom remission was not achieved by initial treatment consisting of plasma exchange (PE), plasma infusion and corticosteroids, followed by vincristine and splenectomy," scientists in Switzerland report. "In view of the ongoing activity of TTP, treatment was initiated with rituximab, a chimaeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD 20 antigen present on B lymphocytes. The patient received 4 weekly infusions of 375 mg/m2, each administered after the daily PE session and withholding PE until 48 hours later. Three weeks after the last infusion of rituximab a complete clinical and laboratory remission of this first episode of acute refractory TTP was documented. A concise review of the literature on the role of rituximab in patients with a first episode of acute plasma-refractory TTP suggests that rituximab in that situation may produce clinical remission in a significant proportion of patients, result in a lowered plasma requirement and avoid the complications of salvage immunosuppressive therapy. The use of rituximab in acute refractory TTP appears to be safe, with no excess infectious complications," wrote A. Rüfer and colleagues, University of Bern. The researchers concluded: "We conclude that rituximab should be considered in TTP patients with acquired ADAMTS-13 deficiency who fail to respond clinically after 7-14 days of standard treatment with daily PE and glucocorticoids." Rüfer and colleagues published their study in Swiss Medical Weekly (Rituximab for acute plasma-refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A case report and concise review of the literature. Swiss Medical Weekly, 2007;137(37-38):518-24). For additional information, contact A. Rüfer, Luzern and University of Bern, Kantonsspital Luzern, Dept. of Medicine, Kantonsspital Luzern, Switzerland. The publisher's contact information for the journal Swiss Medical Weekly is: E M H Swiss Medical Publishers Ltd., Steinentorstrasse 13, CH-4-10 Basel, Switzerland. Keywords: Switzerland, Thrombocytopenic Purpura Therapy, Biotechnology, Corticosteroid, Hematology, Medical Device, Monoclonal Antibodies, Therapy, Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Treatment, Vincristine. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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