TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of Repeated Courses of Rituximab as Treatment for Pemphigus Vulgaris
AU - Baum, Sharon
AU - Raviv, Tal
AU - Gilboa, Sarit
AU - Pavlotsky, Felix
AU - Barzilai, Aviv
PY - 2020/10/6
Y1 - 2020/10/6
N2 - Rituximab targets the B-lymphocyte antigen CD20, providing pemphigus vulgaris patients with long-term remissions. However, the effects of repeated courses have not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated rituximab courses on remission length in pemphigus vulgaris. A total of 73 patients with pemphigus vulgaris treated with rituximab at a single centre were retrospectively analysed. Of 73 study participants (28 men, 45 women), 42 (58%) received a 2nd course of rituximab, 24 (33%) received a 3rd course, 4 (6%) received a 4th course, and one (1%) received a 5th course. Rituximab remained efficacious in each course, irrespective of previous treatments (complete remission 75-81%). Following the 2nd and 3rd courses, the results indicated longer remissions with reduced flare-ups, and the remission length increased with each subsequent course. We conclude that rituximab serves as a disease-modifying agent, notably for patients with moderate-to-severe pemphigus vulgaris.
AB - Rituximab targets the B-lymphocyte antigen CD20, providing pemphigus vulgaris patients with long-term remissions. However, the effects of repeated courses have not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated rituximab courses on remission length in pemphigus vulgaris. A total of 73 patients with pemphigus vulgaris treated with rituximab at a single centre were retrospectively analysed. Of 73 study participants (28 men, 45 women), 42 (58%) received a 2nd course of rituximab, 24 (33%) received a 3rd course, 4 (6%) received a 4th course, and one (1%) received a 5th course. Rituximab remained efficacious in each course, irrespective of previous treatments (complete remission 75-81%). Following the 2nd and 3rd courses, the results indicated longer remissions with reduced flare-ups, and the remission length increased with each subsequent course. We conclude that rituximab serves as a disease-modifying agent, notably for patients with moderate-to-severe pemphigus vulgaris.
KW - pemphigus vulgaris
KW - remission
KW - repeated course
KW - rituximab
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092681303&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2340/00015555-3649
DO - 10.2340/00015555-3649
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C2 - 32985675
AN - SCOPUS:85092681303
SN - 0001-5555
VL - 100
SP - adv00286
JO - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
JF - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
IS - 17
ER -