title: Spinal epidural abscess following treatment with rituximab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe spinal epidural abscess after treatment with rituximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Report of a new case of cervical epidural spinal abscess after treatment with rituximab and review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biologic agents are associated with an increased risk of serious infections, there are only few reports of spinal epidural abscesses following immunomodulatory treatment with biologic agents, including only one other case of an epidural abscess after the use of rituximab. The risk may be greater with the use of other immunosuppressive medications, or with combined immunotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal epidural abscess is a rare complication with potential severe morbidity, and continued vigilance is needed as timely intervention may prevent severe morbidity and potentially fatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.|Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Živković
mesh_terms: D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: biologic agents; infliximab; rituximab; spinal epidural abscess