- ISSN: 0253-8253
- E-ISSN: 2227-0426
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oa Efficacy and safety of rituximab as second-line therapy in immune thrombocytopenic purpura based on ethnicity: A descriptive study among the Arabic population
- Source: Qatar Medical Journal, Volume 2022, Issue 3, سبتمبر ٢٠٢٢, 22
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- ١٩ يناير ٢٠٢٢
- ٢٧ مارس ٢٠٢٢
- ٠٧ يوليو ٢٠٢٢
ملخص
Background: Rituximab is used as second-line therapy in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who do not respond to first-line management. The response rate for Rituximab is variable in different populations ranging from 30% to 90%. The adverse effects of rituximab in patients with ITP range from infusion site reactions to the reactivation of hepatitis B virus and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and interpopulation variation.
Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study in Qatar's National Center for Cancer Care & Research. The study included patients with chronic refractory ITP who received rituximab as second-line therapy. Descriptive and summary statistics were used to describe the sociodemographic parameters of the study cohort.
Results: Of the 41 patients with chronic ITP, 26 were Arabs, 12 were Asians, and 3 were of other ethnicities. Rituximab was associated with an overall response rate of 80.4%. Arabic patients had the highest clinical response (84.6%) among the ethnicities with the lowest adverse effects (11.5%). Asians had a response rate of 66.6%, and adverse effects were seen in 16.7% of the patients.
Conclusions: In chronic refractory ITP, rituximab appears to have a better clinical response in the Arabic population with minimal toxicity than in other ethnicities.
