rome and Anemia--Hemolytic--Autoimmune

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 11 consecutive patients with various autoimmune cytopenias who failed to respond to conventional treatments and received a fixed-dose regimen of rituximab (100 mg weekly for 4 consecutive weeks). Sustained complete responses were achieved in 4 out of 7 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and in 1 patient with autoimmune pancytopenia. A partial response was observed in 1 patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The immunotherapy had no effect in 1 patient with pure red cell aplasia or in 1 patient with autoimmune neutropenia. No infusion-related or delayed toxicities attributable to rituximab were experienced by any of the patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Female; Humans; Immunologic Factors; London; Male; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Pancytopenia; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Rituximab; Rome

During a period of 4 years, 21 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic disease (IAHD) and 42 healthy, sex- and age-matched subjects, were tested for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA). At diagnosis, APA were detected in 10/21 (47.6%) patients and in 2/42 (4.76%) controls (p< 0.01). No thromboembolic events were registered during the follow-up period.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Antiphospholipid Syndrome; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Incidence; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Risk; Rome; Thromboembolism