Splenectomy has traditionally been considered as a standard first line treatment for @entity1074 ( @entity1074 ) conferring a survival advantage over chemotherapy. However it carries significant complications, especially in elderly @entity1 . The purpose of this retrospective study was to report our experience on the efficacy of Rituximab as first line treatment in 16 consecutive @entity1074 @entity1 , diagnosed in our department. The diagnosis was established using standard criteria. @entity1 ' median age was 57 years (range, 48-78). Prior to treatment initiation all @entity1 had @entity381 , nine had @entity417 , @entity6113 , five @entity1398 and six @entity882 . Rituximab was administered at a dose of 375 mg/m2/week for 6 consecutive weeks. The overall response rate was 100%. After treatment, all @entity1 had a complete resolution of @entity381 along with restoration of their blood counts. Eleven @entity1 (69%) achieved a CR, three (19%) unconfirmed CR and two (12%) a PR. Among the complete responders seven @entity1 had also a molecular remission. The median time to clinical response was 3 weeks (range, 2-6). Rituximab maintenance was given to 12 @entity1 . Eleven of them had no evidence of disease progression after a median follow-up time of 28.5 months (range, 14-36), while two out of four @entity1 who did not receive maintenance, relapsed 7 and 24 months after the completion of induction treatment. Median follow-up time for the entire series was 29.5 months (range, 15-81). No deaths were recorded during the follow-up period. Therapy was well tolerated. The present study demonstrates that rituximab is an effective treatment for @entity1074 and could be considered as a substitute or alternative to splenectomy.

Rituximab monotherapy is highly effective in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity6113 :: ('MESH:D008218', 'Disease') :: ['five lymphocytosis'] @entity417 :: ('MESH:D000740', 'Disease') :: ['anemia'] @entity882 :: ('MESH:D013921', 'Disease') :: ['thrombocytopenia'] @entity1074 :: ('MESH:D018442', 'Disease') :: ['splenic marginal zone lymphoma', 'SMZL'] @entity1398 :: ('MESH:D009503', 'Disease') :: ['neutropenia'] @entity381 :: ('MESH:D013163', 'Disease') :: ['splenomegaly']
@entity1074 :: (MESH:D018442,Disease) :: ['splenic marginal zone lymphoma']
