International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2011
ReviewDoes rituximab increase the incidence of infectious complications? A narrative review.
Rituximab has increasingly been used for the treatment of hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases, and its efficacy and safety are well established. Although clinical trials have shown conflicting results regarding the association of rituximab with infections, an increased incidence of infections has recently been reported in patients with lymphomas being treated with rituximab. However, clinical experience regarding the association of rituximab with different types of infection is lacking and this association has not been established in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. ⋯ Further studies are needed to clarify the association of rituximab with infection. Physicians and patients should be educated about the association of rituximab with infectious complications. Monitoring of absolute neutrophil count and immunoglobulin levels and the identification of high-risk groups for the development of infectious complications, with timely vaccination of these groups, are clearly needed.