Abstract
Background and Objectives
In this study, the treatment results of "Rituximab therapy and Splenectomy" in chronic patients of ITP were collected in Mofid Children's Hospital during the years of 1380-1391.
 
Materials and Methods
In this descriptive study, the charts of patients with chronic ITP in years of 1380-1391 were studied. Variables including sex, age at rituximab therapy spelenectomy, treatment response, side effects, prespelenectomy vaccination and prophylactic antibiotics were assessed. The data were analyzed by EXCEL & SPSS 11.5.
 
Results
Chronic ITP patients were 39 cases, 18 males and 21 females; 17 (43.5%) patients received rituximab with 375 mg/mm2 and 100 mg/mm2, between 1-9 times. Three patients  of the first group completely responded (plt > 100000/mm3). Complications, fever and pancytopenia  were seen in 2 patients. The first patient with fever responded to the supportive  treatment. The other patient showed severe pancytopenia after receiving the second dose of Rituximab but at last recovered after 7 months with the supportive therapy.  Six out of 39 (15%) patients of chronic ITP  with the history of variable treatments had been splenectomised and 4(66%) patients had completely responded. Five out of 6 (85%) patients  received  complete  vaccination before splenectomy. No sepsis or thrombosis was seen.
 
Conclusions 
Probably the low number of spelenectomised patients is the result of oral treatment success in prevention of spelenectomising and splenectomy could be replaced by rituximab therapy if accessible. On the other hand, because of the low number of cases, it was statistically impossible to compare the results of the two groups.