Rituximab-induced severe acute thrombocytopenia: a case report and review of literature.

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is generally a safe and well-tolerated drug. Severe acute thrombocytopenia following administration of rituximab is a rare phenomenon, with few previously reported cases in the literature. We report a case of an 84-year old male with a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma who suffered severe acute thrombocytopenia following rituximab infusion. A literature review of the previously published cases is also presented.