Humanized anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab) treatment for post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder*

Abstract

Rituximab is an effective agent in the treatment of PTLD without the morbidity characteristic of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy should be reserved only for those refractory to Rituximab therapy.

Experimental Infection of NOD/SCID Mice Reconstituted with Human CD34 + Cells with Epstein-Barr Virus

“…However, currently there are no preventative strategies or treatments that can adequately address EBV-related posttransplant disorders. Several possible treatment options are being considered, including the use of antibodies to interleukin-6 (IL-6) or CD20 and the infusion of EBV-specific CTLs (4,13,19,24,38,52,53). These and other possible treatment options would benefit greatly from the availability of preclinical in vivo models in which they could be readily evaluated and optimized.…”

Routine Epstein-Barr Virus Diagnostics from the Laboratory Perspective: Still Challenging after 35 Years

“…Allograft organ transplant recipients, especially children with pretransplantation EBV seronegativity, are at particular risk for the development of posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) during immunosuppressive therapy (19,20). Anti-CD20 antibody (Rituximab) treatment (12) and a wide range of other therapeutic interventions are available for these disorders (24). However, the characteristic that these therapeutic interventions have in common is that they must be applied very early in the course of disease to be effective; thus, early diagnosis is a prerequisite.…”

B lymphocyte depletion therapy in children with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus

“…It has been shown to reduce pre-B and B lymphocytes in vivo and has become an effective treatment for lymphomas and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in adults and children. There are emerging data regarding the efficacy of rituximab in adults with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Although rituximab has been used effectively in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, so far, only 1 published case report has been published describing the use of rituximab in a girl with SLE and refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenia (16).…”