Efficacy of Repeated Courses of Rituximab as Treatment for Pemphigus Vulgaris

Abstract

Rituximab targets the B-lymphocyte antigen CD20, providing pemphigus vulgaris patients with long-term remissions. However, the effects of repeated courses have not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated rituximab courses on remission length in pemphigus vulgaris. A total of 73 patients with pemphigus vulgaris treated with rituximab at a single centre were retrospectively analysed. Of 73 study participants (28 men, 45 women), 42 (58%) received a 2nd course of rituximab, 24 (33%) received a 3rd course, 4 (6%) received a 4th course, and one (1%) received a 5th course. Rituximab remained efficacious in each course, irrespective of previous treatments (complete remission 75–81%). Following the 2nd and 3rd courses, the results indicated longer remissions with reduced flare-ups, and the remission length increased with each subsequent course. We conclude that rituximab serves as a disease-modifying agent, notably for patients with moderate-to-severe pemphigus vulgaris.

Keywords

• repeated course
• rituximab
• pemphigus vulgaris
• remission