http://goo.gl/fIu9kz
The New England Journal of Medicine published a letter to the editor reporting results of a 10-year study using Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with intravenous immune globulin for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), a potentially fatal autoimmune blistering disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes.
Findings showed that, following the discontinuation of Rituxan, all patients continued to remain in remission without recurrence of the disease.
Results showed that:
- During the 10-year follow up period, there were no short-term or long-term adverse events observed, and there was no need for hospitalization.
- No other autoimmune disease, cancer, or deaths occurred after treatment with either Rituxan or intravenous immune globulin.
- Counts of CD19+ B-cells revealed normal levels in starting in 2006 and continuing on.
- Skin biopsy specimens obtained 5 years after the last dose of Rituxan was administered from sites that had previously been affected by the disease showed no indication of disease on direct immunofluorescence assay.