ABSTRACT
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults is a chronic disease resulting from increased platelet destruction and impaired platelet production. Splenectomy remains the most effective and durable treatment in cases that are refractory to first-line therapy, but its use has declined because of the availability of alternate medical therapy, the associated risk of infection, and concern for surgeryrelated complications. Rituximab (Rituxan) may be an effective alternative but carries the risk of immunosuppression.
- Copyright © 2012 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
- Swapna Thota, MD,
- Gaurav Kistangari, MD⇑,
- Hamed Daw, MD and
- Timothy Spiro, MD
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fairview Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Hospitals
- Department of Hospital Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine; Department of Regional Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic
- Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Regional Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic
- ADDRESS:
Gaurav Kistangari, MD, Department of Hospital Medicine, M2 Annex, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail kistang{at}ccf.org.
ABSTRACT
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults is a chronic disease resulting from increased platelet destruction and impaired platelet production. Splenectomy remains the most effective and durable treatment in cases that are refractory to first-line therapy, but its use has declined because of the availability of alternate medical therapy, the associated risk of infection, and concern for surgeryrelated complications. Rituximab (Rituxan) may be an effective alternative but carries the risk of immunosuppression.
- Copyright © 2012 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.