I Papakonstantinou1, I Poulakidas2. 1. 1 Department of Internal Medicine, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece. 2. Hematology Division, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Severe immune thrombocytopenia displays a rare side effect of pegylated interferon therapy for Hepatitis C infection. Our aim is to report a case of severe and late onset immune thrombocytopenia due to pegylated interferon treatment that was effectively managed with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE: A 27-year-old male, Hepatitis C infected patient, presented with sudden, severe immune thrombocytopenia at the end of a standard 24-week antiviral treatment, as a side effect of pegylated interferon. Platelet count rapidly normalized with Rituximab infusions. CONCLUSION: Rituximab could be a valuable treatment option in pegylated interferon related immune thrombocytopenia, when patients are resistant to conventional treatment or when physicians are reluctant to administer corticosteroids.
BACKGROUND: Severe immune thrombocytopenia displays a rare side effect of pegylated interferon therapy for Hepatitis C infection. Our aim is to report a case of severe and late onset immune thrombocytopenia due to pegylated interferon treatment that was effectively managed with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE: A 27-year-old male, Hepatitis C infectedpatient, presented with sudden, severe immune thrombocytopenia at the end of a standard 24-week antiviral treatment, as a side effect of pegylated interferon. Platelet count rapidly normalized with Rituximab infusions. CONCLUSION:Rituximab could be a valuable treatment option in pegylated interferon related immune thrombocytopenia, when patients are resistant to conventional treatment or when physicians are reluctant to administer corticosteroids.
Authors: Nichola Cooper; Roberto Stasi; Susanna Cunningham-Rundles; Michael A Feuerstein; John P Leonard; Sergio Amadori; James B Bussel Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 6.998