Anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibodies and their use in adult autoimmune hematological disorders

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Autoimmune hematological disorders encompass a broad group of hematological conditions characterized by the loss of self‐tolerance to a variety of antigens. Despite good response to first‐line therapy in the majority of patients, relapses are common, necessitating new and safe therapeutic options. The anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has led to substantial improvement in the treatment of malignant and immune‐mediated disorders involving B cells. Although experience with rituximab in immune‐mediated hematological disorders is rarely supported by randomized trials, there is now substantial experience with rituximab suggesting that anti‐CD20 therapy is an effective and well‐tolerated alternative to immunosuppressive therapy in these disorders. However, caution is needed based on recent reports describing—sometimes severe—rituximab‐related complications. Am. J. Hematol. 2011.

This publication has 194 references indexed in Scilit: