Rituximab is a very effective drug used to treat many inflammatory diseases. These diseases include, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic autoimmune diseases. The major drawback of this drug is the risk of infection, which are favored by the direct effect of rituximab on the immune system. The risk of infection is one of the major reason not to prescribe or withdraw rituximab in several patients. However, many questions remain unanswered regarding the proportion and risk factors of infection or immunodeficiency induced by rituximab. Better understanding of these issues will help prescribing rituximab and properly monitor patients during their treatment. Moreover, as treatment with substitutive immunoglobulins might be a solution to decrease the risk of infections in those patients, it is very important to better characterize the risk and risk factors of rituximab-associated infection. The present study aims to answer these questions.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
73
Hôpital Claude Huriez, CHU
Lille, France
Occurrence of a serious infection event [SIE] in patient with an autoimmune disease treated with rituximab
A serious infection event \[SIE\] defined as any infection which led to hospitalization and/or death and/or required treatment with intravenous antibiotic/antiviral drugs
Time frame: Within 12 months after inclusion
Hypogammaglobulinemia
defined by immunoglobulin (Ig) G \<6g / L.
Time frame: Within 12 months after inclusion
Replacement therapy with immunoglobulins
Start of an immunoglobulins therapy to replace gammaglobulins
Time frame: Within 12 months after inclusion
Hypersensitivity skin reaction secondary to RTX injection.
Attack rate of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions after RTX injection in patients with dysimmune disease.
Time frame: Within 12 months after inclusion
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