Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Rituximab

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by a progressive accumulation of lymphocytes, which occurs predominantly in elderly patients. As present one of the major problems in the treatment of CLL is low complete remission rate, others are complication and toxicity of drugs, such as myelosuppression, infections and disorder of immunosystem function, especially in elderly patients. This study reported that a 74-year-old male patient with B-CLL effectively and safely was treated with fludarabine (nucleatide reductase inhibitor), rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) and amifostine. The patient was given fludarabine and rituximab in standard dose, but the time of drug given is different from conventional treatment, it was adjusted according to the patient status. The results showed that no chill, fever and infection occurred during treatment. Furthermore, blood cell count and hemoglobin level recovered to normal after the end of treatment. In conclusion, the individualized protocol of fludarabine combined with rituximab and amifostine showed the safety and effectiveness for treatment of aged patient with CLL. Amifostine is drug known as chemoprotectants, can alleviate or eliminate the immunological disorder from CLL and the adverse effects from chemotherapy, such as myelosuppression, infection, fever and so on.
Aged ; Amifostine ; administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety as well as the effects of lower dose of rituximab on B-lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulin, and platelet glycoprotein-specific antibodies in patients with chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

METHODSTwenty chronic refractory ITP patients, median age 47 (20 to 60) years old, received intravenous rituximab at the dose of 100mg once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Laboratory studies included complete blood cell count, regular monitoring of liver and kidney functions, blood coagulation and serum concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA. CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), CD20(+) cell numbers were assayed by flow cytometry prior to and following rituximab. Platelet glycoprotein antibodies were detected by ELISA. The detection of indicators were compared by paired T test, with P < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTSThere was significant difference of the average platelet count between prior- \[(13 ± 5) × 10(9)/L\] and post-treatment \[(124 ± 106) × 10(9)/L\] with lower dose rituximab (P < 0.01). Reaching PLT peak period was of (24 ± 7) d with median time of 18 d. The responses were of 11(55%) CR, 4 (20%) R and 5 (25%) NR, respectively, with median response duration of 8 months (5 - 23 months). There were no significant changes of peripheral blood white blood cell count, hemoglobin, serum immunoglobulin, as well as CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) lymphocyte counts during prior- and post-treatment. CD19(+)/CD20(+) cells were almost depleted in all patients \[(125.65 ± 14.12) × 10(6)/L vs (50.53 ± 29.11) × 10(6)/L, P < 0.01)\]. Expectedly, three cases of positive detection of platelet antibodies were negative after 4 weeks of lower dose of rituximab; one patient experienced infusion-related reaction.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with lower dose rituximab may be an effective and safe approach in patient with chronic refractory ITP. However, the optimal therapeutic schedule, long-term efficacy and adverse events need further investigation.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Recurrence ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of two different regimens of low doses rituximab for the treatment of adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

METHODSFifty-one patients were enrolled in this study and was non-randomly assigned to receive 100 mg rituximab weekly for 4 weeks (group A, 31 cases) or a single dose of 375 mg/m2 rituximab (group B, 20 cases).

RESULTSFor group A: Overall and complete response (OR and CR) rates were 58% and 29% , respectively. In responders, the median time to response was 42 (10 -101) days, with a median follow-up time of 15 (10 - 16) months, 3 of 18 responders (17%) relapsed. For group B: OR and CR rates were 50% and 35% , respectively. In responders, the median time to response was 35 (18 - 108) days, with a median follow-up time of 13 (6 -17) months, 1 of 9 responders (11%) relapsed. No significant difference in the OR, CR, the relapse rate and relapse free survival was observed in patients between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe low dose rituximab regimen (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks or a single close of 375 mg/m2) may be a useful alternative therapy in patients with ITP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab on B-lymphocytes and anti-platelet glycoprotein-specific antibodies in patients with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenic (ITP).

METHODSThirty-one ITP patients with a median age of 36 years (range 16 - 56 years) received solely intravenous rituximab at the dose of 375 mg/m(2) once weekly for consecutive 4 weeks. Lab studies included complete blood count, serum concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA. CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+) and CD20(+) cell numbers were assayed by flow cytometry and anti-platelet glycoprotein-specific antibodies (GPIIb/IIIa, GPIb/IX) were assayed by monoclonal antibody-specific immobilisation of platelet antigens (MAIPA) prior to and following rituximab therapy. The response was evaluated according to the response criteria of international working group of ITP.

RESULTSComplete responses were achieved in 12 cases, response in 7 cases, and no response in 12 cases. Responses were sustained 2 to 28 months (median 6 months) with 4 cases relapsed. After 4 weeks of rituximab therapy, GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb/IX disappeared in responded patients, and CD 19(+)/CD20(+) cells were almost depleted in all patients. As expected, the serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, and the T cell counts were not changed after therapy. Four patients developed infusion-related reaction, 1 impaired renal function, and 3 secondary infections.

CONCLUSIONRituximab is effective and safe, and the adverse reaction is tolerable.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; drug therapy ; Recurrence ; Rituximab ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combination chemoimmunotherapy of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

METHODSTwenty-one patients with CLL were treated with FCR regimen which consisted of fludarabine (25 mg/m(2), days 2 to 4), cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m(2), days 2 to 4) and rituximab (375 mg/m(2), day 1) in a course of 28 days. The minimal residual disease (MRD) was determined by multiparameter flow cytometry. The correlation between the pretreatment characteristics and complete remission (CR) rate was analyzed.

RESULTSEleven patients (52.4%) achieved CR, 7 (33.3%) achieved partial remission (PR) with a overall response (OR) rate of 85.7%. With a median follow-up time of 19 (7 - 73) months, the overall survival (OS) was 86.0%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) was 72.0%. Pretreatment parameters independently associated with higher CR rates were Binet stage A + B, IgVH mutated and ZAP-70 less than 20%. MRD was less than 1% in 6 patients. The most common toxicities were myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reaction.

CONCLUSIONFCR is an effective regimen for CLL patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) following renal transplantation is relatively common. However, the risk factors and optimal pretransplant treatment preventing recurrence of FSGS remain controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 27 adult renal transplant recipients with FSGS over a period of 10 years. We first compared possible risk factors for FSGS recurrence between the recurrence and nonrecurrence groups. Then we evaluated the effect of pretransplant plasmapheresis (PP; n = 4) and PP with rituximab (PP + RTX; n = 5) on recurrence of FSGS after transplantation compared to control patients that were not treated with these modalities. RESULTS: There were seven recurrences in 27 patients (25.9%), but there were no significant differences in possible risk factors for FSGS recurrence between the two groups. Recurrence rates between patients with pretransplant PP or PP + RTX and control patients were not significantly different (22.2% vs. 27.7%, p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in recurrence between the pretransplant PP and PP + RTX groups (25% vs. 20%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pretransplant PP or PP + RTX do not significantly decrease the recurrence of FSGS in adult renal transplant candidates.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental/diagnosis/immunology/*surgery ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*administration & dosage ; *Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Plasmapheresis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

In order to evaluate the efficiency of rituximab combined with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) regimen for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Five patients with CLL were treated with FCR regimen for 2 - 6 courses. FCR regimen included fludarabine 25 mg/m(2) via intravenous drip at day 2 - 4, cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m(2) via intravenous drip at day 2 - 4 and rituximab 375 mg/m(2) via intravenous drip at day 1. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was determined by multiparametic flow cytometry. The results showed that three patients achieved complete remission, 2 patients achieved partial remission. MRD was negative in two patients. In conclusion, FCR is an effective therapeutic regimen for treating CLL patients and is worth to be used in clinic.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Rituximab ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; therapy ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; therapy ; Male ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab