Rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease in a patient with follicular lymphoma: A rare case report

Abstract

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets CD-20 antigen expressed in more than 90% of all B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We report a case of 33-year-old female without any comorbidities, newly diagnosed with stage IIIB follicular lymphoma treated with rituximab-based chemotherapy. Patient developed exertional dyspnea and dry cough after the fourth cycle of rituximab-based chemotherapy. Diagnostic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs revealed bilateral patchy ground glass opacities suggestive of interstitial lung disease (ILD). It was managed successfully with supplemental oxygen and corticosteroids with discontinuation of the Rituximab. Extensive review of the literature did not reveal ample of material on rituximab-induced ILD (RTX-ILD).

Keywords

• Follicular lymphoma
• interstitial lung disease
• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• rituximab