Summary of patients' and controls' characteristics
| Characteristics . | Patients . | Controls . |
|---|---|---|
| Total no. | 30 | 30 |
| Men | 8 | 8 |
| Women | 22 | 22 |
| Age, y | ||
| Median | 46 | 46.5 |
| Range | 24-68 | 23-68 |
| Baseline platelet count, × 109/L | ||
| Median | 12 | 242 |
| Range | 3-22 | 161-285 |
| Previous therapies | NA | |
| Prednisone | 30 | — |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin | 30 | — |
| High-dose dexamethasone | 10 | — |
| Splenectomy | 9 | — |
| Azathioprine | 8 | — |
| Vincristine | 5 | — |
| Pulse cyclophosphamide | 4 | — |
| ITP duration before rituximab treatment, mo | NA | |
| Median | 37 | — |
| Range | 9-87 | — |
| Elevated PAIgG | 26/26 | 5/26 |
| Elevated ACA/LLA | 12/26 | 0/26 |
| ANA positive | 0/30 | 0/26 |
| Coombs tests positive | 0/24 | 0/26 |
| Response to rituximab* | 14/30 | NA |
| Characteristics . | Patients . | Controls . |
|---|---|---|
| Total no. | 30 | 30 |
| Men | 8 | 8 |
| Women | 22 | 22 |
| Age, y | ||
| Median | 46 | 46.5 |
| Range | 24-68 | 23-68 |
| Baseline platelet count, × 109/L | ||
| Median | 12 | 242 |
| Range | 3-22 | 161-285 |
| Previous therapies | NA | |
| Prednisone | 30 | — |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin | 30 | — |
| High-dose dexamethasone | 10 | — |
| Splenectomy | 9 | — |
| Azathioprine | 8 | — |
| Vincristine | 5 | — |
| Pulse cyclophosphamide | 4 | — |
| ITP duration before rituximab treatment, mo | NA | |
| Median | 37 | — |
| Range | 9-87 | — |
| Elevated PAIgG | 26/26 | 5/26 |
| Elevated ACA/LLA | 12/26 | 0/26 |
| ANA positive | 0/30 | 0/26 |
| Coombs tests positive | 0/24 | 0/26 |
| Response to rituximab* | 14/30 | NA |
ITP indicates idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura IgG; PAIgG, platelet-associated immunoglobulin; ACA/LLA, anticardiolipin antibodies/lupus-like anticoagulant; ANA, antinuclear antibodies; NA, not applicable; and —, not available.
Platelet count higher than 150 × 109/L of at least 6-month duration.