Clifford Keri S, Demierre Marie-France
Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jul;53(1):155-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.12.048.
Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen of B cells and is being used increasingly for treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. We observed the rapid progression of Kaposi's sarcoma after our patient received rituximab for autoimmune hemolytic anemia. We postulate that by very specifically depleting B cells, rituximab affects T-cell function (eliminating B- and T-cell interactions), resulting in impaired T-cell-mediated immunity. Dermatologists should use caution when offering rituximab for off-label use.
