380
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Long-term experience with rituximab therapy for treatment-resistant moderate-to-severe pemphigus

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 2102-2109 | Received 30 Mar 2021, Accepted 02 Apr 2021, Published online: 08 Jun 2021
 

Abstract

Background

Rituximab appears to be effective for treating pemphigus, although there are limited long-term data.

Methods

This retrospective single-center study evaluated patients with conventional treatment-resistant pemphigus who received rituximab during September 2010–December 2019. The first rituximab cycle was based on the rheumatoid arthritis protocol in all patients except one patient, and additional single doses (500 mg or 1000 mg) were administered after clinical and/or serological relapse. The consensus definitions were used for complete remission off therapy, complete remission on minimal therapy, and clinical relapse. Serological relapse was defined as a progressive ≥2-fold increase in anti-desmoglein titers (vs. previous the measurement).

Results

The study included 52 patients with pemphigus vulgaris and 1 patient with pemphigus foliaceus. The mean number of infusions was 5 and the average follow-up after the first infusion was 56 months. The average time to clinical and/or serological relapse was 12 months. Complete remission was achieved in 84.9% of patients, including after the first rituximab cycle in 25 patients (47.1%). Two patients died during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Additional rituximab cycles may help achieve and prolong remission in patients with moderate-to-severe pemphigus resistant to conventional therapies. However, prospective trials are needed to identify the optimal dosing protocol.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All relevant data are included in the manuscript and its associated files.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.