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Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Successful result in refractory Pemphigus vulgaris: report of a case.
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Virgolini, Luigi Marzocchi, Vanda |
| Copyright Year | 2003 |
| Abstract | Pemphigus vulgaris is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes, characterized by flaccid bullae that rupture and leave erosions and scars. Its treatment is challenging. Although the use of systemic corticosteroids remains the cornerstone of effective therapeutic regimens for PV, their prolonged administration may lead to serious side effects. It is therefore necessary for many patients to add immunosuppressive agents or use chemotherapy to achieve remission but sometimes any treatment is unsuccessful. Rituximab is a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody which reacts specifically with the CD 20 antigen, inducing marked and prolonged systemic B-cell depletion. This effect leads to a strong reduction of antibody (and auto-antibody) production and justify its use in B-cell nonHodgkin's lymphoma and some auto-immune diseases. M. M. a 53-year old female first showed cutaneous manifestantions of pemphigus vulgaris in 1992. After many years of steroid treatment and pulsed doses of methotrexate, the patient required 60 mg/day of methylprednisolone and 100 mg /day of cyclophosphamide to obtain an unsat- |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| PubMed reference number | 12857576 |
| Journal | Medline |
| Volume Number | 88 |
| Issue Number | 7 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.haematologica.org/content/haematol/88/7/ELT24.full.pdf |
| Journal | Haematologica |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Report |
