Rituximab reduces the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease.

摘要

B lymphocytes are increasingly assigned a pivotal position in the pathogenesis of chronic auto- and alloimmune diseases. Clinical trials testing rituximab against multiple sclerosis,1 rheumatoid arthritis,2 systemic lupus erythematosus,3 and steroid refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)4 have suggested a rationale for targeting the B-cell-T-cell axis in chronic autoimmune disorders. The evidence for a therapeutic or prophylactic effect of rituximab in acute GVHD (aGVHD) is scarce.5 Here, we present data from a retrospective on 34 adult patients (22 male, 12 female), transplanted consecutively with an allogeneic stem cell graft in one institution (University Hospital Halle [Saale], Germany). Informed consent was obtained in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Seventeen patients received the monoclonal antibody rituximab (375 mg/m2) once. Of those, 13 received rituximab as a means of conditioning against CD20-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) 8 days before transplantation (day -8).