| Abstract | Rituximab has been documented to be an effective treatment for autoimmune diseases with contribution of B cells. We report a case of antisynthetase syndrome with a history of EBV-induced lymphoma which developed a pemphigus vulgaris. Rituximab was effective both on polymyositis and on pemphigus. Fifteen months later, the patient died from a septic shock after the first cyclophosphamide infusion for amyloidosis while the B cell population remained depleted. Rituximab may be a good alternative to immunosuppressive drugs in polymyositis and pemphigus especially in lymphoma-risk patients. However, it did not prevent progression to secondary amyloidosis and the fatal infection developed in this patient raises the question of whether a prolonged B cell depletion with rituximab contributes to a greater risk of infection. |
| Authors | Anne Tournadre, Stéphanie Amarger, Pascal Joly, Michel d'Incan, Jean-Michel Ristori, Martin Soubrier
(Affiliation: CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Rheumatology Department, G. Montpied Hospital, Place H Dunant, BP 69, 63003 Clermont-Ferrand, France. atournadre at chu-clermontferrand.fr)
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| Journal | Joint, bone, spine : revue du rhumatisme
(Joint Bone Spine)
Vol. 75
Issue 6
Pg. 728-9
(Dec 2008)
ISSN: 1778-7254 France |
| PMID | 18455465
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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