title: Late-onset neutropenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after treatment with rituximab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Late-onset neutropenia (LON) is an adverse effect of rituximab (RTX) in hematological malignancies, a finding that was recently reported in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of our study was to estimate its incidence in RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed complete blood (cell) count of patients with RA who received RTX between October 2007 and July 2011 to identify neutropenia (≤ 1.5 × 10(9)) up to 12 months following RTX.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eight patients received RTX, median age 64 years (range 25-86). A total of 237 cycles were given. Five patients developed LON after a median of 151 days (71-184). Two developed pneumonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LON occurs infrequently after RTX, but can present with infection.
authors.affiliation: From the Research and Development Department, Department of Rheumatology, The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich, UK.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdulkader
authors.forename: Chethana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dharmapalaiah
authors.forename: Ginny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shand
authors.forename: Gavin P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Clunie
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: ADVERSE EFFECTS; BIOLOGICAL THERAPY; NEUTROPHILS; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS