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Rituximab for allo-SCT-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 41, pages 1063–1065 (2008)Cite this article

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may rarely complicate Allo-SCT.1, 2 First-line therapy of TTP is plasma exchange.3 However, other therapeutic approaches, such as steroids, i.v. high-dose Ig and vincristine, are still used. Despite anecdotally, recently, the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has been reported to successfully cure SCT-associated thrombotic microangiopathy.4, 5, 6, 7

SCT-associated TTP is probably due to endothelial injury and is defined as a condition in which are seen the simultaneous occurrence of laboratory findings of hemolysis with schistocytes on the blood film, need for packed red cell transfusions, de novo or prolonged thrombocytopenia caused by consumption in absence of positive laboratory tests of disseminated intravascular coagulation.1, 2 The consensus on specific and standardized therapies for SCT-associated TTP is far from uniform. Results of plasma exchange are poor compared with those obtained in the novo TTP and mortality rate of patients treated with this modality still remains high (>80%).8

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

    A M Carella, G D'Arena, M M Greco, M Nobile & N Cascavilla

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  1. A M Carella
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  2. G D'Arena
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  3. M M Greco
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  4. M Nobile
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  5. N Cascavilla
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Correspondence to A M Carella.

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Carella, A., D'Arena, G., Greco, M. et al. Rituximab for allo-SCT-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Bone Marrow Transplant 41, 1063–1065 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.25

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