Rituximab: a monoclonal antibody to CD20 used in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric antibody that selectively targets B lymphocytes. Recently, it has been reported to be beneficial in treating pemphigus vulgaris.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to review the English-language literature on the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) with rituximab and to determine its efficacy and influence on clinical outcome(s).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the literature on the use of rituximab in the treatment of PV was conducted. Seventeen patients in 10 reports were described and their data were reviewed.

RESULTS: The majority of patients received one course of rituximab along with conventional immunosuppressive therapy as concomitant therapy; 88% of the patients demonstrated improvement. More than half of the patients were followed up for more than 6 months after rituximab treatment; they appeared to be clinically disease free, but were still receiving conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Side effects in most patients were transient and infusion related. Serious infections occurred in 4 patients. One patient died.

LIMITATIONS: The sample size of this study is small; there is no uniformity of data collection or measurement of key and critical indices, and follow-up was limited.

CONCLUSION: Rituximab may be a promising agent in treatment of PV.