Rituximab in severe pemphigus

E Schmidt, M Goebeler… - Annals of the New York …, 2009 - Wiley Online Library
E Schmidt, M Goebeler, D Zillikens
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2009Wiley Online Library
Pemphigus is a life‐threatening autoimmune bullous disorder that requires long‐term
treatment with systemic corticosteroids mostly in conjunction with further
immunosuppressants. Rituximab has opened a new avenue for severe and refractory
pemphigus patients. In 95% of the 136 pemphigus patients reported to date in the English,
French, and German literature, at least a partial remission has been achieved. In about two‐
thirds of communicated cases, application of rituximab resulted in the healing of all lesions …
Pemphigus is a life‐threatening autoimmune bullous disorder that requires long‐term treatment with systemic corticosteroids mostly in conjunction with further immunosuppressants. Rituximab has opened a new avenue for severe and refractory pemphigus patients. In 95% of the 136 pemphigus patients reported to date in the English, French, and German literature, at least a partial remission has been achieved. In about two‐thirds of communicated cases, application of rituximab resulted in the healing of all lesions. A controlled prospective study, however, has only recently being initiated. In pemphigus, rituximab is aimed at resetting the immune system to a condition in which autoreactive B lymphocytes are eliminated or sufficiently controlled. Here, we review mechanisms of action, different treatment protocols, clinical responses, and the safety profile of rituximab.
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