Yokuş, Osman Okmeydanı Teaching and Research Hospital - Department of Hematology, Turkey , Balçık, Özlem Şahin Fatih University - Medical School - Department of Hematology, Turkey , Uz, Burak Hacettepe University - School of Medicine - Department of Hematology, Turkey , Albayrak, Murat Yıldırım Beyazıt Teaching and Research Hospital - Department of Hematology, Turkey , Turasan, Abdullah Kayseri Teaching and Research Hospital - Department of Dermatology, Turkey

Rituximab-induced serum sickness in a patient with refractory chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report and review of the literature

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Although common side effects such as fever, chills and rigors are commonly seen during the first infusion of rituximab; delayed ones such as serum sickness and Steven-Johnson syndrome have rarely been reported. We report an adult patient with steroid resistant and splenectomized chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura who presented with fever, arthralgia, asthma like respiratory symptoms, maculopapular rash, and palpable purpuric lesions 2 days after the third infusion of rituximab. Withdrawal of rituximab and subsequent treatment with i.v. steroid and antihistaminics improved the patient’s clinical and physical findings. In such cases rituximab should be discontinued, complete and rapid resolution can be possible with systemic steroid treatment.

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Rituximab , chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura , CD20 , serum sickness , intravenous immunoglobulin

Cumhuriyet Medical Journal

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