Limited effect of rituximab on thrombocytopaenia and anticardiolipin antibodies in a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

摘要

The primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) defines vascular occlusions and miscarriages, often recurrent, in the presence of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) measured by clotting or immune assays . Thrombocytopaenia can be found in up to 23% of APS patients and can complicate the management of PAPS patients on warfarin, enhancing the risk of bleeding , Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody against B cells expressing the CD20 antigen, has been successfully used in chronic thrombocytopaenia , and because PAPS may be viewed as a B cell disease , it was considered in a PAPS patient with refractory thrombocytopaenia.