Outcomes 5 years after response to rituximab therapy in children and adults with immune thrombocytopenia

Blood. 2012 Jun 21;119(25):5989-95. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-11-393975. Epub 2012 May 7.

Abstract

Treatments for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) providing durable platelet responses without continued dosing are limited. Whereas complete responses (CRs) to B-cell depletion in ITP usually last for 1 year in adults, partial responses (PRs) are less durable. Comparable data do not exist for children and 5-year outcomes are unavailable. Patients with ITP treated with rituximab who achieved CRs and PRs (platelets > 150 × 10(9)/L or 50-150 × 10(9)/L, respectively) were selected to be assessed for duration of their response; 72 adults whose response lasted at least 1 year and 66 children with response of any duration were included. Patients had baseline platelet counts < 30 × 10(9)/L; 95% had ITP of > 6 months in duration. Adults and children each had initial overall response rates of 57% and similar 5-year estimates of persisting response (21% and 26%, respectively). Children did not relapse after 2 years from initial treatment whereas adults did. Initial CR and prolonged B-cell depletion predicted sustained responses whereas prior splenectomy, age, sex, and duration of ITP did not. No novel or substantial long-term clinical toxicity was observed. In summary, 21% to 26% of adults and children with chronic ITP treated with standard-dose rituximab maintained a treatment-free response for at least 5 years without major toxicity. These results can inform clinical decision-making.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / therapy*
  • Rituximab
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab