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Recommendations for the use of rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) in the treatment of autoimmune bullous skin diseases.
- Source :
-
Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG [J Dtsch Dermatol Ges] 2008 May; Vol. 6 (5), pp. 366-73. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Jan 14. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Autoimmune bullous skin disorders are induced by autoantibodies against distinct adhesion complexes of the epidermal and dermal-epidermal junction. Since most of these disorders are characterized by a severe, potentially lethal course,they require long-term immunosuppressive treatment to reduce the de novo synthesis of pathogenic autoantibodies by B lymphocytes. Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20 on B lymphocytes, has shown promise in several case reports or cohort studies in the treatment of paraneo-plastic pemphigus,refractory cases of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus and in other autoimmune bullous disorders. Treatment with rituximab leads to depletion of pathogenic B-cells which may last up to 12 months resulting in a reduction of plasma cells secreting pathogenic autoantibodies. Rituximab is usually administered in an adjuvant setting at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) i.v.in weekly intervals for four consecutive weeks in addition to the standard immunosuppressive treatment. The present consensus statement of German-speaking dermatologists, rheumatologists and oncologists summarizes and evaluates the current evidence for the use and mode of application of rituximab in autoimmune bullous skin disorders.
Details
- Language :
- English; German
- ISSN :
- 1610-0387
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18201220
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06602.x