Pemphigus Foliaceus—Repeated Treatment With Rituximab 7 Years After Initial Response: A Case Report

Abstract

Read online

Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune skin disease mediated by autoantibodies directed against desmoglein-1 located in the upper epidermal layer. Rituximab, a monoclonal anit-CD20 antibody depleting b-cells, offers an effective treatment possibility for therapy-resistant pemphigus foliaceus. Here, we present the case of 55-year-old man who did not respond sufficiently to conventional treatment with prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide, but underwent almost complete remission after rituximab treatment. The patient relapsed 7 years later, and a repeated course of rituximab infusions led to a partial remission.

Keywords

• pemphigus foliaceus
• rituximab
• anti-CD20
• b-cell depletion
• autoimmune blistering diseases