Rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease in a patient with immune thrombocytopenia purpura

Intern Med J. 2012 Mar;42(3):e12-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2011.02701.x.

Abstract

We report the case of an 84-year-old man with refractory immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) who was treated with rituximab and subsequently developed severe interstitial lung disease. There has been increasing use of rituximab in the treatment of ITP with success rates of up to 62% in adult patients with recurrent ITP. Interstitial lung disease is a rare but recognised complication of rituximab but has been rarely reported in the setting of ITP.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / chemically induced*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / complications
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / drug therapy
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / chemically induced
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / therapy
  • Rituximab
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Rituximab
  • Vincristine
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Azathioprine
  • Prednisone