title: Persistence of babesiosis for >2 years in a patient on rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We report a patient who was being treated with rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis who developed Babesia microti infection that persisted for 26 months despite prolonged anti-babesia drug therapy. The explanation for the persistence was likely to have been the long-term immunocompromising effects of rituximab, as evidenced by seronegativity for B. microti antibodies that lasted for more than 1 year after onset of infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595; Mount Kisco Medical Group, PC, Mount Kisco, NY 10549.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raffalli
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595. Electronic address: gwormser@nymc.edu.
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wormser
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Rituximab