,6 In a previous study, Hai Zhou et al. reported that using rituximab with recombinant human thrombopoietin compared to rituximab monotherapy in ITP patients who had failed glucocorticoid therapy, showed a significantly shorter TTR (7 days versus 28 days) and higher complete response rate (45.4 % versus 23.7 %). The gene discussed is THPO; the disease is autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.