Treatment of immune thrombocytopenia associated with interferon therapy of hepatitis C with the anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab

This case report describes a patient with hepatitis C virus infection responding to pegylated INF/ribaviron therapy, who developed immune thrombocytopenia. The severe thrombocytopenia failed to resolve with cessation of the peg‐IFN/ribaviron. Because of rising hepatitis C virus RNA levels and evidence of rising serum transaminases, the patient was treated with rituximab, anti‐CD20 humanized monoclonal antibody. After treatment with rituximab, the patient's platelet count normalized and the patient was able to resume the pegylated IFN/ribaviron. The patient's hepatitis C virus RNA levels decreased, and the serum transaminases normalized without impairment of hepatic function or recurrence of the thrombocytopenia. Am. J. Hematol. 78:138–141, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.