Rituximab is a therapy no used in both indolent and aggressive B cell lymphomas. What is the mechanism of action of Rituximab? List the major disorders for which Rituximab is approved for use.
Recall that CD20 is expressed on over 90% of B cells and is a protein that is not shed or internalized.
Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody that on contact to CD20 on the surface of a B cell causes cytotoxicity mediated by compliment and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
Indications for Rituximab use:
- Treatment of CD20 positive lymphoproliferative disorders
- Treatment of Connective tissue disease such as Rheumatoid arthritis
- Can be requested on special access for second line therapies in autoimmune disorders such as immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura
Garvey B. British Journal of Haematology Volume 141, Issue 2, pages 149–169, April 2008
