Campath/rituxan

Hi all. It's been a while since I've been here. I have had no changes in the past 1 1/2 years, I continue to have platelet levels well below normal. Steroids didn't work. Ivig works for a period of time. I have been getting ivig treatments pretty regularly since I was diagnosed. I will jump up to over 200 and go down by half weekly. By 5 weeks I'm in the 20's or teens. We experimented with a how low can you go and I made it 6 weeks before my hematologist said 12 was making him way too nervous. I tried rituxan 2 summers ago no luck obviously. I am starting campath today along with 4 small doses of rituxan over the next month. I was wondering if anyone had tried this? I did a search on here and it didn't come back with any results.

The idea behind the treatment is that you go after both the T cells and the B cells which can alter the immune system and hopefully stop the destruction of platelets. I read a trial, I would link to it but I can't find it now, 13 people with itp were in the trial and it was relatively successful. Usually the treatment is used for other autoimmune disorders. I realize there isn't a lot of research but I am willing to try anything that may put me in a remission even if it's only for a few months, that would be a break from what I've done over the last 1 1/2 years.

I am still trying to hold off on a splenectomy but I'm running out of excuses and options. I want to ski again and jump out of a plane. So my goal is at least a level of 75.

I don't know much about it but I know they are doing trials in Indianapolis. Have you looked into TPO's? I know not everyone can have them due to different medical issues but they are very effective for me. I know what you mean about skiing. I grew up skiing and skatingin New Mexico and Colorado. Watching the Olympics makes me want to get back into it.