Rituximab in refractory pemphigus vulgaris

• Published in: Dermatologic therapy Vol. 21; no. s1; pp. S6 - S9
• Main Authors: Sorce, M., Aricò, M., Bongiorno, M. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01-07-2008
• Subjects: Adult; anti-CD20; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antigens, CD19 - blood; Antigens, CD19 - drug effects; Antigens, CD20 - blood; Antigens, CD20 - drug effects; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Infusions, Intravenous; Pemphigus - blood; Pemphigus - diagnosis; Pemphigus - drug therapy; pemphigus vulgaris; Prednisone - therapeutic use; Remission Induction; Rituximab
• ISSN: 1396-0296; 1529-8019
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2008.00194.x

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a severe chronic autoimmune blistering disease of skin and mucous membranes. The use of systemic corticosteroids in pemphigus has dramatically reduced its mortality rate, but the long‐term use of steroids leads to severe side effects, many of which are serious. For this reason it is often necessary to add immunosuppressive agents to the regimen. However, there are occasional refractory cases in which therapy with conventionally accepted modalities is either not efficacious or not possible on account of side effects. Rituximab is a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, an integral membrane protein highly expressed on the surface of pre‐B lymphocytes and activated mature B lymphocytes. We present an instance of refractory PV successfully treated with rituximab. The successful treatment of pemphigus described here demonstrates that rituximab is a viable therapeutic option for patients with refractory PV.