Tendonitis and Tendon Rupture After Treatment With Rituximab: A Case Series

Abstract

This is the first case series reporting new onset tendonitis in patients with connective tissue diseases after rituximab therapy. All 3 cases developed tendonitis 1 week after receiving the second dose of rituximab. Clinical features of tendonitis resolved 3-4 months in all cases. The underlying pathogenic mechanism by which rituximab causes tendonitis is not clear, but tendonitis and tendon rupture have been reported after using other medications such as quinolones. The tendon damage was progressive leading to tendon rupture in 1 patient, highlighting the importance of early recognition. It is plausible that there is a cause-effect relation between tendonitis and administration of rituximab in our 3 cases, since none of these cases had previous history of tendonitis; however, more data are needed to confirm this observation.

Cephalexin-associated Achilles Tendonitis: Case Report and Review of Drug-induced Tendinopathy

“…Each woman received two doses of rituximab 1000 milligrams two weeks apart; within one week after the second dose, they developed tendonitis of their Achilles tendon (one patient), their wrist tendon (one patient) or both (one patient). Symptoms improved between three to four months after the second rituximab treatment [ 14 ].…”

Current Advances on the Regeneration of Musculoskeletal Interfaces

“…These therapies can induce, for example, chondrocytes senescence and bone differentiation leading to osteoarthritis 40 . Furthermore, numerous other drugs are associated with the development of tendinopathies or muscle rupture 41,42 .…”