Dermatologic Applications of Rituximab

Rituximab is a chimeric murine-human monoclonal antibody to CD20 that induces the depletion of B cells in vivo. Approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory low-grade or follicular CD201 B-cell lymphoma, rituximab has been used with success for the treatment of several dermatologic disorders, including pemphigus vulgaris; atopic dermatitis; some immune-mediated vasculitides; epidermolysis bullosa acquisita; cryoglobulinemia; primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma; dermatomyositis; and chronic graft versus host disease. The overall safety profile of rituximab has been favorable, with the most common adverse events related to infusion reaction associated with intravenous administration. Intralesional injection of rituximab has been evaluated with some success in a small number of patients with cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.