title: Rituximab and its use in autoimmune bullous disorders.
abstract: Rituximab is a chimeric, murine-human, monoclonal antibody against the CD20 antigen of B lymphocytes. It has been used off-label to treat and manage autoimmune and dermatologic diseases as an alternative or adjuvant therapy to systemic treatments. Due to cost, potential complications, and lack of data rituximab is used after standard systemic therapies have failed or the patient is absolutely contraindicated for corticosteroids. More research is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St George Hospital, Gray Street, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Dédée F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Murrell
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D000069283:Rituximab; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab