Rituximab in the treatment of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus

J Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Apr;17(3):142-4. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0b013e318214f30c.

Abstract

Rituximab is a CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsed or refractory low-grade or follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma and for the treatment of moderate to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. It has been used as an off-label treatment in many autoimmune diseases, where B cells play a major role in the pathogenesis. We report a case of successful use of rituximab in the treatment of refractory bullous systemic lupus erythematosus in an African American patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Rituximab
  • Skin / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab