Low-dose rituximab therapy for refractory thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus--a prospective pilot study

Abstract

Low-dose rituximab therapy is effective in treating severe thrombocytopenia in SLE patients who do not respond to vigorous glucocorticoid plus immunosuppressants, and in most cases is safe.

Atypical Multiple Cutaneous Ulcers in A Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated with Rituximab: Case Report

“…2,17 Certain cutaneous adverse effects of RTX, such as easy bruising, or bleeding, petechial lesions, painful oral ulcers, redness, blistering, scaly, itchy, or peeling skin have been reported 24 hours after the infusion. 4,18,19 These adverse effects can persist for a few weeks or months even if RTX is discontinued. So far cutaneous deep ulcers due to RTX treatment have not been reported.…”

Prospects for Anti-B-Cell Therapy in Immuno-Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

“…В то же время необходимо принимать во внимание дозозависимые НЛР на фоне лечения РТМ, такие как поздняя нейтропения [367] и гипогаммаглобулинемия [368]. Необходимо также учитывать и успешные результаты применения низких доз РТМ при других аутоиммунных заболеваниях, таких как пузырчатка [369,370], мембранозный нефрит [371], идиопатическая аутоиммунная гемолитическая анемия [372] и первичная иммунная тромбоцитопения [373], резистентная тромбоцитопения при СКВ [374].…”

Lupus thrombocytopenia: pathogenesis and therapeutic implications

“…In SLE, it has been used at high doses of 1000 mg for one or multiple doses to as low as 100 to 200mg per week for 1-4 doses, [61][62][63] the lower doses reserved for patients with cytopenias only. 64 Although retrospective or open label studies and case reports have shown efficacy over 60% in lupus thrombocytopenia, optimal dose has not been defined and duration of response is somehow short lived. 61,65 Newer, type II, anti-CD20 mAbs like obinotuzumab may be more effective in this context due to more potent B cell depletion.…”