Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against B cell-specific surface marker CD20, has shown encouraging results in treating autoimmune diseases.1^–4

In this study, six patients with refractory severe thrombocytopenia (platelets (PLT) 4 to 10×10⁹/litre) were treated with rituximab (weekly infusion of 375 mg/m² for 3–4 consecutive weeks), including three cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, one case each of primary Sjögren syndrome, undifferentiated connective tissue disease (CTD) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Previous corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents in all patients were continued. Disease durations were 3 months to 13 years. Prior to rituximab therapy, all patients had failed at least two courses of methylprednisolone pulse (1 g …