ITP and Cipro

I am a 73 year old male who recently (five weeks ago) discovered a very low (12,000) platelet level. To date I have been treated with Prednisone and Rituxan. My counts have been variable but have never gotten above 49,000. In reviewing my recent medical history and blood tests this all seems to have started when I had a major UTI which required one day in the hospital. This occured three months ago. I was treated with Cipro which seems to have knocked out the UTI. though I did have a second bout three weeks later which was also treated with Cipro. All in all I had three rounds of the Cipro.

Is there any evidence that a UTI and Cipro can be the cause of ITP? If so is there any best treatment options since nothing seems to be working right now?

Both medications & infections can cause ITP

medicineworld.org/physicians/hematology/thrombocytopenia.html

Any drug has the potential to trigger ITP. Infections can also.

How long ago did you have Rituxan? What are your counts now?

I started a four week Rituxan series on Sept 9 so I have had 3 infusions so far. My count when I started was 36K, the next week it went up to 49k, but last week it was down to 25K.

At the same time I was tapering off of Prednisone. I was on 20mg a day the first week and none the second week. With the latest results I have been put back on 40mg a day.

Larry

Rituxan can take 4 to 12 weeks to kick in if a person is responsive. My counts went from 3k on the day of the third infusion to 150k the day of the fourth infusion. It can take longer for most people.