How long does it take Rituxan to work for ITP?
Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting a B-cell antigen (CD20) that has been used widely as a second line therapy for ITP with a promising response rate approaching 60% in some studies. A response is usually seen between week one to eight of therapy and could last for five years in some patients.
How does Rituxan work in ITP?
How does rituximab for ITP work? Rituximab is an antibody that is designed to target and bind to a protein on the surface of B-cells (also known as B-lymphocytes). In ITP, B-cells are responsible for producing antibodies (similar to rituximab) that happen to destroy your platelets, instead of fighting infection.
What are the side effects of Rituxan?
What are the possible side effects of Rituxan?
- fever.
- cold symptoms, such as runny nose or sore throat, that do not go away.
- flu symptoms, such as cough, tiredness, and body aches.
- earache or headache.
- pain during urination.
- cold sores in the mouth or throat.
- cuts, scrapes, or incisions that are red, warm, swollen, or painful.
Can Rituxan be used to treat ITP?
Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody with a B-cell depleting effect, has recently emerged as a promising treatment for ITP. The study aims to determine whether early treatment with Rituximab can result in durable remissions, and consequently, avoidance of splenectomy in a clinical significant number of patients.
Do you lose your hair with Rituxan?
Hair loss is a possible side effect of Rituxan. However, in clinical trials, hair loss occurred only in people who took Rituxan for pemphigus vulgaris (PV). PV is a condition in which your skin and mucous membranes develop serious and painful blisters. Mucous membranes line areas such as the mouth.
What is the success rate of Rituxan?
Rituximab with bendamustine (Treanda, Cephalon) was studied in a phase 2 trial in patients with relapsed disease. This combination was found to be very effective, with an ORR of 92%.
What is the best therapy for long term remission of chronic ITP?
Since spontaneous remissions are uncommon in adults with ITP, the administration of glucocorticoids is the recommended treatment when necessary. Prednisone (1 mg/kg per day orally) or high-dose dexamethasone (HDD), 40 mg/day orally for 4 days, repeated every 14–28 days as needed, are the regimens most commonly used.
How does Rituxan make you feel?
After a Rituxan (rituximab) infusion you may experience certain side effects or adverse reactions that make you feel unwell. Rituxan affects different people in different ways, but the more common side effects include: Fever (high temperature), muscle aches, headaches and chills, which are signs of infection.
Who should not take Rituxan?
lung disease or a breathing disorder; a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicines); heart disease, angina (chest pain), or heart rhythm disorder; or. if you have used rituximab in the past, or you have had a severe allergic reaction to rituximab.
Does Rituxan affect platelets?
A mean overall decrease in platelets was observed after rituximab infusion. A downward trend in platelet count of more than 30% was observed in 7.2% of the patients. The decline was observed when rituximab was given as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy.
Does Rituxan weaken immune system?
Serious Infections: Serious infections can happen during and after treatment with Rituxan and can lead to death. Rituxan can increase your risk of getting infections and can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. People with serious infections should not receive Rituxan.
Can Rituxan cause weight gain?
Weight gain or weight loss Some people took Rituxan afterward and some people didn’t take any medication. Of the people who took Rituxan after chemotherapy, 11% gained weight. In comparison, 4% of people who didn’t take medication after chemotherapy gained weight.