Rituximab desensitization in three patients with severe rituximab allergy

[Desensibilización a Rituximab en paciente con proteinuria persistente secundaria a LES]

Introduction

Rituximab is an Anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody, being the treatment of lymphoproliferative diseases and rheumatological disorders; hypersensitivity reactions (HRS) are associated with infusion, cytokine release, type I (IgE/non-IgE), mixed, type III and IV. Desensitization seeks to induce tem- porary tolerance, decreasing the probability of clinical manifestations through gradual administration of the total dose of the drug, being target cells of the procedure, basophils, and mast cells, preventing their activation.

Case report

The objective is to present a personalized desensitization protocol in a 36-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pre- viously treated with rituximab in 2019, 4 doses, presenting during the fourth administration, after 10 minutes, dyspnea, feeling foreign body in the pharynx, chest pain, angioedema, and neurological alteration. Requiring new administration of rituximab due to persistent proteinuria secondary to SLE. After performing skin tests (negative), a 13-step desensitization scheme was performed with 3 concentrations (solution: A [1:100], B [1:10] and C [1:1]). Since only 52% of RHS to rituximab are positive in skin tests and given the degree of reaction (serious), desensitization is decided, based on reactions presented by patient and clinical context. Achieving a cumulative dose of 897.87 mg in a period of 5 hours, without reactions during or after the procedure, concluding successfully.

Conclusion

By carrying out desensitization protocols, the administration of a drug is allowed, offering a safe therapeutic option, when this is the treatment of choice in previously sensitized patients, offering an alternative when the benefits outweigh the risks of its administration.

Biologics and anaphylaxis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The use of biologicals as therapeutic agents in oncology and other inflammatory diseases has dramatically increased during the last years. Due to their biological nature and inherent immunological activity, they are able to induce important adverse events, such as cytokine release reactions (rapid release of proinflammatory cytokines), serum sickness disease, and immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. The aim of the current article is to review the state of the art of anaphylaxis because of biological agents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Different phenotypes, and potential underlying endotypes, have been described in anaphylactic reactions to biologicals. There seems to be a spectrum from type 1 reactions (IgE or non-IgE-mediated) to cytokine release reactions, with some reactions falling in between both. Management should be directed according to such phenotypes.

SUMMARY

There is ongoing research to further define immediate adverse reactions to biologicals and to find relevant biomarkers to aid in their diagnosis. Such information will serve in defining their immediate and long term management.

Desensitization to biological agents used in rheumatology

Biological agents such as monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins are widely used for the treatment of patients with various rheumatic disorders, influencing the quality of life, disability and even mortality in patients. However, biological agents can evoke adverse reactions of different grades of severity. Although drug avoidance remains a gold standard in the care of patients hypersensitive to medication, in certain clinical situations the culprit drug is the drug of choice and cannot be replaced by another equally effective compound. In such cases, desensitization can allow the patient to be treated within current guidelines and with the most effective treatment. The authors searched Medline and Scopus databases for English-language sources using the following key words: hypersensitivity, desensitization, biologicals, adalimumab, etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, rituximab, infliximab, ixekizumab, tocilizumab, anakinra and canakinumab. The aim of our review is to present the current knowledge about desensitization to biological agents and some guidelines according to patient inclusion, contraindications, procedures, and safety requirements. Drug desensitization is a new issue in rheumatology, and the solution to the problem of allergic reactions to biological drugs, which gives patients with rheumatic diseases the opportunity to extend and prolong their therapy. The present article is one of the first widely discussing this topic in the biological treatment of rheumatic diseases.