Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia after rituximab therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Rituximab is a chimeric, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody initially approved for relapsed, refractory indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and is being applied in an increasing variety of clinical scenarios. Most adverse events are due to an infusion-related symptom complex, and severe pulmonary complications are rare. We describe a case of an NHL patient who received rituximab and developed symptomatic, biopsy-proven multinodular bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP). This is the first reported case of BOOP associated with single-agent rituximab, and along with two other patients we describe, as well as two prior reports of BOOP in NHL patients receiving rituximab-based combinations, strengthens the possibility of a causal relationship. Moreover, these findings suggest that the incidence of BOOP following rituximab therapy may be higher than has been previously appreciated. Physicians utilizing rituximab should be aware of this association given the difficulty of differentiating between presentations of BOOP and neoplastic pulmonary processes.
Biehn
Suzanne E
SE
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA. suzanne_biehn@med.unc.edu
Kirk
David
D
Rivera
M Patricia
MP
Martinez
Antonio E
AE
Khandani
Amir H
AH
Orlowski
Robert Z
RZ
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D011241:Prednisone