Rituximab pneumocystis

Infection risk In a study of consolidation therapy with subcutaneous alemtuzumab after fludarabine and rituximab induction therapy for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia, alemtuzumab was associated with five deaths resulting from infections (viral, Listeria meningitis and Legionella, cytomegalovirus, and Pneumocystis jirovedi pnemnonia), which occurred up to 7 months after the last administration [bS "]. 

Infection risk The risk of infections and serious infections with rituximab may be similar to that with the TNT antagonists. To date, there have been no reports from trials of an increased risk of tuberculosis or opportunistic infections with rituximab [162 ]. Some investigators have reported an increase in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, and increased number of infections has been documented in patients treated with maintenance rituximab for low-grade lymphoma and in patients with concomitant severe immunodeficiency, whether caused by HIV or immunosuppressive agents [152 ]. In rheumatoid arthritis, the susceptibility factors for severe infections include chronic lung and/or cardiac disease, extra-articular involvement, and low IgG before rituximab treatment [163 ]. After kidney transplantation, the off-label use of rituximab is associated with a high risk of infectious disease and death related to infectious disease [164 ]. 

Tsai M-J, Chou C-W, Lin F-C, Chang S-C. Pneumocystis jircmeci pnemnonia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after rituximab therapy. Lupus 2012 21(8) 914-8. 

Sato M, Ito S, Ogura M, Kamei K, Miyairi I, Miyata I, et al. Atypical Pneumocystis jircmeci pneumonia with multiple nodular granulomas after rituximab for refractory nephrotic sundrome. Pediatr Nephrol 2013 28(l) 145-9. 

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