The morbidity associated with the treatment of autoimmune cytopenias has created a need for new approaches. Based on the fact that rituximab reacts specifically against the CD 20 antigen and induces B-cell depletion interfering with the production of auto-antibodies, five patients with autoimmune cytopenias were treated. All patients were previously refractory to conventional therapy and received 375 mg/m² of rituximab infusion weekly, for four weeks. All patients improved either by increasing the number of cells or by being able to reach steroid suspension. No major reactions occurred during infusion, and no major infections occurred during the follow up. Rituximab appears to be active and safe for patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, suggesting that this agent can play an important part in the therapeutic arsenal for autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune cytopenias; autoimmune thrombocytopenia; hemolytic anemia; rituximab
