Does rituximab increase the incidence of infectious complications? A narrative review

Detection of Neoehrlichia mikurensis in 11 persons who attribute their persistent health complaints to a tick-borne disease

BACKGROUND

Neoehrlichia mikurensis infections can cause symptomatic disease, particular among immunosuppressed persons. Long-lasting asymptomatic carriage of N. mikurensis may be common in endemic areas. This study explores possible associations between carriage of N. mikurensis DNA and persistent health complaints in persons who attribute their symptoms to a tick-borne disease.

METHODS

Eleven persons tested positive for N. mikurensis DNA by PCR in a study cohort of 285 persons reporting persistent health complaints. The 11 persons were tested again in a follow-up sample. Oral doxycycline treatment was given if the confirmatory PCR-test was positive. Treatment response was assessed by telephone interview. Demographics, clinical manifestations, tick exposure, physical health, somatic symptom burden and fatigue were compared to persons with negative N. mikurensis PCR (controls, N = 274).

RESULTS

Six persons had detectable N. mikurensis DNA in a follow-up sample up to 9.5 months after the index sample. Seven persons (one without a positive confirmative test) received doxycycline treatment. Three reported symptom restitution after completed antibiotic treatment. However, their symptoms were not clearly attributed to infection by N. mikurensis. We did not find any significant differences between infected persons and non-infected controls regarding their clinical manifestations and health burdens.

CONCLUSIONS

We corroborate previous evidence of long-term carriage of N. mikurensis, but cannot infer that to be causative of persistent health complaints.

B cell subsets reconstitution and immunoglobulin levels in children and adolescents with B non-Hodgkin lymphoma after treatment with single anti CD20 agent dose included in chemotherapeutic protocols: single center experience and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

RTX, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, added to chemotherapy has proven to be effective in children and adolescents with high-grade, high-risk and matured non-Hodgkin lymphoma. RTX leads to prompt CD19+ B lymphocyte depletion. However, despite preserved immunoglobulin production by long-lived plasmablasts after treatment, patients remain at risk of prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia. Further, there are few general guidelines for immunology laboratories and clinical feature monitoring after B cell-targeted therapies. The aim of this paper is to describe B cell reconstitution and immunoglobulin levels after pediatric B-NHL protocols, that included a single RTX dose and to review the literature.

METHODS

A retrospective single-center study on the impact of a single RTX dose included in a chemotherapeutic pediatric B Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL) treatment protocols. Immunology laboratory and clinical features were evaluated over an eight hundred days follow-up (FU) period, after completing B-NHL treatment.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (fifteen Burkitt lymphoma, three Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and one Marginal zone B cell lymphoma) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Initiation of B cell subset reconstitution occurred a median of three months after B-NHL treatment. Naïve and transitional B cells declined over the FU in contrast to the marginal zone and the switched memory B cell increase. The percentage of patients with IgG, IgA, and IgM hypogammaglobulinemia declined consistently over the FU. Prolonged IgG hypogammaglobulinemia was detectable in 9%, IgM in 13%, and IgA in 25%. All revaccinated patients responded to protein-based vaccines by specific IgG antibody production increase. Following antibiotic prophylaxes, none of the patients with hypogammaglobulinemia manifested with either a severe or opportunistic infection course.

CONCLUSION

The addition of a single RTX dose to the chemotherapeutic treatment protocols was not shown to increase the risk of developing secondary antibody deficiency in B-NHL pediatric patients. Observed prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia remained clinically silent. However interdisciplinary agreement on regular long-term immunology FU after anti-CD20 agent treatment is required.

ASC-expressing pyroptotic extracellular vesicles alleviate sepsis by protecting B cells

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory programmed cell death process characterized by membrane rupture. Interestingly, pyroptotic cells can generate plenty of nanosized vesicles. Non-inflammatory apoptotic cell death-derived apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) were systemically characterized and displayed multiple physiological functions and therapeutic potentials. However, the characteristics of pyroptotic cell-generated extracellular vesicles (EVs) are largely unknown. Here, we identified a group of pyroptotic EVs (pyroEVs) from in vitro cultured pyroptotic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as from septic mouse blood. Compared with apoVs, pyroEVs express similar levels of annexin V, calreticulin, and common EV markers, but express a decreased level of apoptotic marker cleave caspase-3. PyroEVs, but not apoVs and exosomes, specifically express pyroptotic maker apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC). More importantly, MSC-derived pyroEVs protect B cells in the spleen and bone marrow to relieve inflammatory responses and enhance the survival rate of the septic mice. Mechanistically, pyroEV membrane-expressed ASC binds to B cells to repress cell death by repressing Toll-like receptor 4. This study uncovered the characteristics of pyroEVs and their therapeutic role in sepsis and B cell-mediated immune response.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting pulmonary infection in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs

Objective: Pulmonary infection (PI), a severe complication of immunosuppressive therapy, affects patients' prognosis. As part of this study, we aimed to construct a pulmonary infection prediction (PIP) model and validate it in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs). Methods: Totally, 7,977 patients being treated with ISDs were randomised 7:3 to the developing (n = 5,583) versus validation datasets (n = 2,394). Our predictive nomogram was established using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate COX regression analyses. With the use of the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve, the prediction performance of the final model was evaluated. Results: Among the patients taking immunosuppressive medication, PI was observed in 548 (6.9%). The median time of PI occurrence after immunosuppressive therapy was 123.0 (interquartile range: 63.0, 436.0) days. Thirteen statistically significant independent predictors (sex, age, hypertension, DM, malignant tumour, use of biologics, use of CNIs, use of methylprednisolone at 500 mg, use of methylprednisolone at 40 mg, use of methylprednisolone at 40 mg total dose, use of oral glucocorticoids, albumin level, and haemoglobin level) were screened using the LASSO algorithm and multivariate COX regression analysis. The PIP model built on these features performed reasonably well, with the developing C-index of 0.87 (sensitivity: 85.4%; specificity: 81.0%) and validation C-indices of 0.837, 0.829, 0.832 and 0.830 for predicting 90-, 180-, 270- and 360-day PI probability, respectively. The decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves displayed excellent clinical utility and calibration performance of the nomogram. Conclusion: The PIP model presented herein could aid in the prediction of PI risk in individual patients who receive immunosuppressive treatment and help personalise clinical decision-making.

Pathogenesis and management of immune dysfunction secondary to B cell haematological malignancies

Malignancies of the B-lymphocyte lineage are among the most diagnosed haematological malignancies in clinical practice. In our community, multiple myeloma (MM) and its precursor condition monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance are the commonest, accounting for ~12% of diagnoses, followed by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and its precursor condition monoclonal B lymphocytosis, ~9%. Along with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma, these conditions comprise around a third of all haematological malignancies diagnosed. Infection remains an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the management of patients with these conditions. This is in part treatment-related but also reflective of disease-related immune dysfunction. Infectious complications account for up to 50% of early mortality in patients with myeloma and up to 50% of all mortality in patients with CLL. A variety of strategies are available to decrease the morbidity and mortality of infectious complications; however, practices vary between countries and often between treating physicians. Treatment options have evolved significantly over the last decade, with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, second- and third-generation immunomodulatory agents and CAR-T cell therapy. Much of the data that inform clinical practice in infection management predates current therapeutic approaches. This is in part because of the rapid development of new therapies but also reflective of the long natural history of many of these diseases and the need for prolonged periods of observation. In this article, we review the aspects of disease and treatment that contribute to immune dysfunction in MM, CLL and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and review the current strategies used to manage immune dysfunction and infection.

Leprosy in a Patient With Lymphoma: A Challenge in the Twenty-First Century

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, mistakenly considered a disease from the past by some, is still common nowadays, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In the absence of appropriate medical treatment, it may progress and cause permanent damage to multiple organs. This case report illustrates the diagnostic challenge of a south-american adult man who had been living in Europe for over 14 years. He was referred to the Hematology department due to persistent lymphocytosis and a CD5+ B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder was identified. During clinical surveillance, the patient developed skin lesions in his limbs with associated hypoesthesia. A histological diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy was made, and he underwent a long-term three-drug therapeutic regimen (dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine). Adding to the complexity of the case, the patient progressed with splenomegaly and constitutional symptoms, more than 7 years after development of lymphocytosis. Through a comprehensive evaluation, a definitive diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma was established and received 6-cycle R-CHOP induction, followed by maintenance rituximab. Importantly, prophylaxis for leprosy reactivation was not administered as there were no recommendations in available guidelines. Eventually, the patient experienced a leprosy relapse while on maintenance therapy, 58 months after completing the initial anti-leprous treatment. Clinical response was attained with a new treatment regimen consisting of rifampicin, clofazimine, and minocycline.  Although leprosy is primarily observed in tropical and subtropical regions, the long incubation period of this disease combined with the global flow of migrants, made us consider it. Despite being rare, leprosy relapses can occur even after a few decades. The contribution of rituximab or previously administered chemotherapeutic agents is still unknown. The question remains whether antibiotic prophylaxis should be performed in patients undergoing immunochemotherapy for malignant diseases.

Infectious risk when prescribing rituximab in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia acquired in the setting of autoimmune diseases

We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study in a French University Hospital between 2010 and 2018 to describe the risk of severe infectious event (SIE) within 2 years after the date of first rituximab infusion (T0) prescribed after the evidence of acquired hypogammaglobulinemia (gamma globulins [GG] ≤ 6 g/L) in the setting of autoimmune diseases (AID) other than rheumatoid arthritis. SIE occurred in 26 out of 121 included patients. Two years cumulative incidence rates were 12.7 % (95 % CI 5.1-23.9) in the multiple sclerosis/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder group (n = 48), 27.6 % (95 % CI 15.7-40.9) in the ANCA-associated vasculitis group (n = 48) and 30.6 % (95 % CI 13.1-50.3) in the 'other AID' group (n = 25). Median GG level at T0 was 5.3 g/l (IQR 4.1-5.6) in the 'SIE' group and 5.6 g/l (IQR 4.7-5.8) in the 'no SIE' group (p = 0.04). In regression analysis, risk of SIE increased with Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 (OR 2.77; 95 % CI 1.01-7.57), lung disease (OR 3.20; 95 % CI 1.27-7.99), GG < 4 g/L (OR 3.39; 95 % CI 1.02-11.19), concomitant corticosteroid therapy (OR 4.13; 95 % CI 1.63-10.44), previous cyclophosphamide exposure (OR 2.69; 95 % CI 1.10-6.61), a lymphocyte count < 1000 cells/µL (OR 2.86; 95 % CI 1.12-7.21) and absence of pneumococcal vaccination (OR 3.50; 95 % CI 1.41-8.70). These results may help to inform clinical decision when considering a treatment by rituximab in immunosuppressed AID patients with hypogammaglobulinemia.

Hypogammaglobulinemia, late-onset neutropenia, and infections following rituximab

Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that targets CD20-expressing B lymphocytes, has a well-defined efficacy and safety profile, and is broadly used to treat a wide array of diseases. In this review, we cover the mechanism of action of rituximab and focus on hypogammaglobulinemia and late-onset neutropenia-2 immune effects secondary to rituximab-and subsequent infection. We review risk factors and highlight key considerations for immunologic monitoring and clinical management of rituximab-induced secondary immune deficiencies. In patients treated with rituximab, monitoring for hypogammaglobulinemia and infections may help to identify the subset of patients at high risk for developing poor B cell reconstitution, subsequent infections, and adverse complications. These patients may benefit from early interventions such as vaccination, antibacterial prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement therapy. Systematic evaluation of immunoglobulin levels and peripheral B cell counts by flow cytometry, both at baseline and periodically after therapy, is recommended for monitoring. In addition, in those patients with prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia and increased infections after rituximab use, immunologic evaluation for inborn errors of immunity may be warranted to further risk stratification, increase monitoring, and assist in therapeutic decision-making. As the immunologic effects of rituximab are further elucidated, personalized approaches to minimize the risk of adverse reactions while maximizing benefit will allow for improved care of patients with decreased morbidity and mortality.

The Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Case Series

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is often rapidly progressive with a poor prognosis; however, no standard therapeutic regimen has been identified. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in IIM-ILD patients. Five patients who had been administered rituximab for IIM-ILD at least once between August 2016 and November 2021 were included. Lung function decline was compared one year before and after rituximab. Disease progression, defined as a greater than 10% relative decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) compared to the baseline, was also compared before and after treatment. Adverse events were recorded for safety analysis. Five IIM-ILD patients received eight cycles. FVC-predicted values significantly decreased from 6 months before rituximab administration to those at the baseline (54.1% predicted (pre-6 months) vs. 48.5% predicted (baseline), p = 0.043); however, the FVC decline stabilized after rituximab. The rate of disease progression before rituximab showed a tendency to decrease after rituximab (75% (before) vs. 12.5% (6 months after, p = 0.059) vs. 14.3% (12 months after, p = 0.102)). Three adverse events developed, but none resulted in death. Rituximab can stabilize lung function decline with tolerable safety in Korean IIM patients with refractory ILD.

A case of fatal disseminated adenovirus and drug-resistant Pneumocystis pneumonia in a patient who received chemotherapy for mantle cell lymphoma

Adenovirus (ADV) may cause severe complications in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, but disseminated ADV infections in patients who received chemotherapy alone for hematological malignancies are poorly understood due to the rarity of cases. Concomitant infection with Pneumocystis (PCP) is extremely rare. Despite being diagnostically challenging, a more specific workup needs to be initiated with a low threshold in patients who are exposed to agents with the potential to suppress T cells. We report a fatal case of disseminated ADV and drug-resistant PCP pneumonia in a patient with mantle cell lymphoma who had only received combination chemotherapy. A 75-year-old man who was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma 10 months prior was admitted for mild hypoxic respiratory failure. Bendamustine, Rituximab, Cytarabine regimen had resulted in complete remission of his lymphoma, with the last cycle of chemotherapy administered 3 months prior to admission. CT of the chest revealed ground-glass opacities concerning pneumonia. Initial laboratory tests were remarkable for mild leukopenia. The respiratory viral panel was only positive for ADV. He did not respond to empiric antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia and Trimethoprim / Sulfamethoxazole given later for positive Beta D Glucan (BDG) suggestive of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Then, he developed hemorrhagic cystitis, followed by liver and renal function derangement that prompted checking serum ADV viral load by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This test took 1 week to return, with a viral load of 50, 000 copies/mL suggesting disseminated ADV infection. Despite initiation of Cidofovir, multi-organ failure continued to progress, and the follow-up viral load had doubled on Day 2. The patient passed away the same day shortly after transition to comfort care. T cell suppression seems to be a risk factor for disseminated ADV disease. Clinicians may need to maintain a low threshold to send serum quantitative ADV PCR when symptoms are not improved by antimicrobial treatment for more conventional infections in patients who received agents that are known to suppress T cells, such as Bendamustine.

Virus-associated fungal infections and lost immune resistance

Invasive fungal infections are an increasing threat to human health. Of recent concern is the emergence of influenza- or SARS-CoV-2-virus-associated invasive fungal infections. Understanding acquired susceptibilities to fungi requires consideration of the collective and newly explored roles of adaptive, innate, and natural immunity. Neutrophils are known to provide host resistance, but new concepts are emerging that implicate innate antibodies, the actions of specialized B1 B cell subsets, and B cell-neutrophil crosstalk in mediating antifungal host resistance. Based on emerging evidence, we propose that virus infections impact on neutrophil and innate B cell resistance against fungi, leading to invasive infections. These concepts provide novel approaches to developing candidate therapeutics with the aim of restoring natural and humoral immunity and boosting neutrophil resistance against fungi.

The association between hypogammaglobulinemia severity and infection risk in rituximab-treated patients with childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Hypogammaglobulinemia is a major adverse effect from rituximab. However, the association between rituximab-induced hypogammaglobulinemia and infection frequency is unknown.

METHODS

Patients who received rituximab for complicated nephrotic syndrome between February 2006 and October 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Infections requiring antibacterial or antiviral agents or hospitalization were identified, and the characteristics of infections were compared according to infection type.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty patients were enrolled. Fifty infection events were detected in 36 patients, 45 infection events in 32 patients required hospitalization, and 1 severe infection event required intensive care unit admission. In eight patients who developed severe hypogammaglobulinemia (serum IgG level < 200 mg/dL) for more than 1 year after rituximab treatment, eight infections occurred in six patients; six of these infections did not occur during the period of severe hypogammaglobulinemia. Febrile neutropenia accounted for 54.2% (13/24) of all infections among the patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. The incidence of infections was 0.028 (95% confidence interval = 0.017-0.448), 0.071 (95% [CI] = 0.041-0.114), and 0.096 (95% [CI] = 0.019-0.282) patient-years in patients with normal serum IgG levels and those with mild and severe hypogammaglobulinemia, respectively. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy was not administered to any patients except for the treatment of infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed no statistically significant association between hypogammaglobulinemia severity and infection rate. In addition, the frequency of infection was relatively low even in patients with severe hypogammaglobulinemia, suggesting that immunoglobulin replacement therapy may not be necessary for rituximab-treated patients with severe hypogammaglobulinemia. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Immunosuppression in Patients With Primary Immunodeficiency-Walking the Line

Individuals with primary immunodeficiency (PIDD) experience not only infectious complications but also immune dysregulation leading to autoimmunity, inflammation, and lymphoproliferative manifestations. Management of these complications often requires treatment with additional immunosuppressive medications, which pose an additional risk of infectious complications. Immunosuppression in individuals with PIDD therefore requires careful assessment and consideration of risks and benefits. Medications should be closely monitored, and strategies for risk mitigation of adverse events considered, such as exposure reduction, appropriate vaccination, use of antibiotics/antivirals, and optimization of immunoglobulin replacement therapy. In a subset of individuals who are not tolerating immune modulation or experiencing disease progression despite appropriate interventions, hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is a management option.

Acquired B-cell deficiency secondary to B-cell-depleting therapies

The advantage of the newer biological therapies is that the immunosuppressive effect is targeted, in contrast, to the standard, traditional immunomodulatory agents, which have a more global effect. However, there are unintended targets and consequences, even to these "precise" therapeutics, leading to acquired or secondary immunodeficiencies. Besides depleting specific cellular immune subsets, these biological agents, which include monoclonal antibodies against biologically relevant molecules, often have broader functional immune consequences, which become apparent over time. This review focuses on acquired B-cell immunodeficiency, secondary to the use of B-cell depleting therapeutic agents. Among the many adverse consequences of B-cell depletion is the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia, failure of B-cell recovery, impaired B-cell differentiation, and risk of infections. Factors, which modulate the outcomes of B-cell depleting therapies, include the intrinsic nature of the underlying disease, the concomitant use of other immunomodulatory agents, and the clinical status of the patient and other co-existing morbidities. This article seeks to explore the mechanism of action of B-cell depleting agents, the clinical utility and adverse effects of these therapies, and the relevance of systematic and serial laboratory immune monitoring in identifying patients at risk for developing immunological complications, and who may benefit from early intervention to mitigate the secondary consequences. Though these biological drugs are gaining widespread use, a harmonized approach to immune evaluation pre-and post-treatment has not yet gained traction across multiple clinical specialties, because of which, the true prevalence of these adverse events cannot be determined in the treated population, and a systematic and evidence-based dosing schedule cannot be developed. The aim of this review is to bring these issues into focus, and initiate a multi-specialty, data-driven approach to immune monitoring.

Standardization of neutrophil CD64 and monocyte HLA-DR measurement and its application in immune monitoring in kidney transplantation

Background

Infections cause high mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The expressions of neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) and monocyte HLA-DR (mHLA-DR) provide direct evidence of immune status and can be used to evaluate the severity of infection. However, the intensities of nCD64 and mHLA-DR detected by flow cytometry (FCM) are commonly measured by mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs), which are relative values, thus limiting their application. We aimed to standardize nCD64 and mHLA-DR expression using molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF) and to explore their role in immune monitoring for KTRs with infection.

Methods

The study included 50 KTRs diagnosed with infection, 65 immunologically stable KTRs and 26 healthy controls. The blood samples were collected and measured simultaneously by four FCM protocols at different flow cytometers. The MFIs of nCD64 and mHLA-DR were converted into MESF by Phycoerythrin (PE) Fluorescence Quantitation Kit. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and the Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the reliability between the four FCM protocols. MESFs of nCD64 and mHLA-DR, nCD64 index and sepsis index (SI) with the TBNK panel were used to evaluate the immune status. Comparisons among multiple groups were performed with ANOVA one-way analysis. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to diagnose infection or sepsis. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis examined associations of the immune status with infection.

Results

MESFs of nCD64 and mHLA-DR measured by four protocols had excellent reliability (ICCs 0.993 and 0.957, respectively). The nCD64, CD64 index and SI in infection group were significantly higher than those of stable KTRs group. Patients with sepsis had lower mHLA-DR but higher SI than non-sepsis patients. ROC analysis indicated that nCD64 had the highest area under the curve (AUC) for infection, and that mHLA-DR had the highest AUC for sepsis. Logistic analysis indicated that nCD64 > 3089 and B cells counts were independent risk factors for infection.

Conclusion

The standardization of nCD64 and mHLA-DR made it available for widespread application. MESFs of nCD64 and mHLA-DR had good diagnostic performance on infection and sepsis, respectively, which could be promising indicators for immune status of KTRs and contributed to individualized treatment.

Late-onset toxicities of monoclonal antibodies in cancer patients

Cancer therapy duration is variable and may take years, adding a new challenge of maintaining the best life quality for cancer survivors. In cancer patients, late-onset toxicities have been reported with monoclonal antibodies and may involve several body organs or systems. They are defined as an autoimmune illnesses that can happen months to years after treatment discontinuation. Late-onset toxicities have become a focus of clinical care and related research. After cancer therapy is completed, the patient should receive longitudinal follow-up to detect these late effects as early as possible. The current review summarizes the recently reported late-onset toxicities of four classes of monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD52, anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1 and anti-CD20) with guidance for the diagnostic tools, appropriate management and treatment.

Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Initial Combination Therapy with Corticosteroids and Rituximab in Bullous Pemphigoid: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Rituximab is a potential initial adjuvant therapy for bullous pemphigoid, yet clinical experience is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the clinical outcomes and safety of initial combination therapy with systemic corticosteroids and adjuvant rituximab for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed on 84 patients with bullous pemphigoid, who received systemic corticosteroids with or without initial adjuvant rituximab therapy (defined as rituximab use within 12 weeks after initiation of systemic corticosteroids).

RESULTS

Among the 84 patients included (37 received systemic corticosteroids with rituximab and 47 were treated with systemic corticosteroids without rituximab), the median time to complete remission on minimal therapy or off therapy was 215 days (95% confidence interval 176.9-253.1) in patients receiving rituximab vs 529 days (95% confidence interval 338.6-719.4) in those not receiving rituximab. A Cox regression analysis showed an increased probability of reaching complete remission on minimal therapy or off therapy with the combined therapy (hazard ratio = 2.28 [1.28-4.07], p = 0.005) after age, Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Activity Index score, and underlying diseases were controlled. In multivariate logistic/linear regressions, initial adjuvant rituximab therapy was associated with a higher complete remission rate (odds ratio = 6.63 [2.09-21.03]) and lower cumulative prednisolone (mg)/body weight (kg) (B = -24.86 [-44.06 to -8.29]) within 48 weeks. Risk of hospitalization for infection was not elevated in the group treated with adjuvant rituximab.

CONCLUSIONS

Rituximab use as adjuvant therapy within 12 weeks after initiation of systemic corticosteroids was associated with a faster and higher rate of achieving complete remission on minimal therapy or off therapy, as well as a significant corticosteroid-sparing effect and a comparable safety profile in this retrospective study. Hence, initial combination therapy with corticosteroids and adjuvant rituximab could serve as an effective treatment option for bullous pemphigoid, but this requires confirmation in randomized controlled studies.

Practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Primary Immunodeficiency and Altered Immune Response Committees

Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia (SHG) is characterized by reduced immunoglobulin levels due to acquired causes of decreased antibody production or increased antibody loss. Clarification regarding whether the hypogammaglobulinemia is secondary or primary is important because this has implications for evaluation and management. Prior receipt of immunosuppressive medications and/or presence of conditions associated with SHG development, including protein loss syndromes, are histories that raise suspicion for SHG. In patients with these histories, a thorough investigation of potential etiologies of SHG reviewed in this report is needed to devise an effective treatment plan focused on removal of iatrogenic causes (eg, discontinuation of an offending drug) or treatment of the underlying condition (eg, management of nephrotic syndrome). When iatrogenic causes cannot be removed or underlying conditions cannot be reversed, therapeutic options are not clearly delineated but include heightened monitoring for clinical infections, supportive antimicrobials, and in some cases, immunoglobulin replacement therapy. This report serves to summarize the existing literature regarding immunosuppressive medications and populations (autoimmune, neurologic, hematologic/oncologic, pulmonary, posttransplant, protein-losing) associated with SHG and highlights key areas for future investigation.

Hepatotoxicity during legacy cancer chemotherapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The rates and causes of significant hepatotoxicity with cancer chemotherapy (CCT) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are incompletely characterized.

METHODS

We compared rates of grade 3 or 4 hepatotoxicity, defined as elevated transaminases, during CCT in patients who are mono-infected with HCV compared with rates in controls matched on demographics, diagnosis, and rituximab use. We excluded patients with hepatobiliary cancers, hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Hepatotoxicity was attributed to a medical cause, cancer progression, or CCT, including HCV flare.

RESULTS

Patients with HCV (n = 196) had a higher rate of cirrhosis than the 1,130 matched controls (21.9% versus 4%; P <0.001). Their higher rate of overall hepatotoxicity (8.7% versus 4.5% of controls, P = 0.01) was due to higher rate of CCT-related hepatotoxicity (4.1% versus 1.2%, P = 0.01). On multivariable analysis, the largest risk factor for overall hepatotoxicity was cirrhosis, and the only risk factor for CCT-related hepatotoxicity was HCV infection. Among those with HCV, the only significant risk factor for hepatotoxicity was rituximab use. Hepatotoxicity caused by CCT delayed or altered treatment in only 3 HCV patients and 1 control (1.5% versus 0.1%, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with HCV can safely be treated with cancer chemotherapy. Cirrhosis and HCV infection contributed to increased hepatotoxicity in subjects on CCT. Among HCV patients, rituximab use was the major risk factor for increased hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity due to CCT itself rarely altered or delayed CCT. Nonetheless, HCV-positive patients should be monitored carefully during CCT.

Current management of CMV infection in cancer patients (solid tumors). Epidemiology and therapeutic strategies

Little evidence is available regarding the incidence of CMV disease in patients with solid cancers. Latest data show that approximately 50 % of these patients with CMV PCR positivity developed clinically relevant CMV-viremia, and would require specific therapy. In the clinical arena, CMV reactivation is an important differential diagnosis in the infectological work up of these patients, but guidelines of management on this subject are not yet available. CMV reactivation should be considered during differential diagnosis for patients with a severe decline in lymphocyte counts when receiving chemoradiotherapy or immunochemotherapy with lymphocyte-depleting or blocking agents. Monitoring of CMV reactivation followed by the implementation of preemptive strategies or the establishment of early antiviral treatment improves the prognosis and reduces the morbidity and mortality of these patients.

A review of reported infectious events following rituximab therapy in pemphigus patients

Pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering condition that used to be fatal before the introduction of corticosteroid (CS) and immunosuppressive agents. Rituximab is a monoclonal anti-CD-20 antibody that induces the pathologic B-cells apoptosis with significant efficacy in the treatment of pemphigus. The application of rituximab can lead to infectious events. We aim to review the reported infectious events in pemphigus patients who previously received rituximab and classify them based on the causative agents. A thorough search of PubMed was conducted using the keywords "rituximab," "pemphigus," "infection," "viral disease," "viral infection," "complication," "efficacy" and their combinations also applying their equivalent Mesh terms and including the references cited in each study. All studies that mentioned at least one infectious event were included. A total of 77 infectious events in 68 patients were reported in the literature out of which the most reported causative agent was viral but the most fatal one found to be bacterial. Although rituximab therapy has shown promising results in controlling pemphigus patients mainly the refractory cases, given possible fatal outcomes, we believe the medical profile of the patients before initiating the therapy warrants careful examination to search for any risk factors or predisposing conditions.

Unexpected Positive Effects of Rituximab and Corticosteroids on COVID-19 in a Patient Suffering from Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns among physicians and patients with autoimmune disorders about how this viral infection affects the patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs. There are speculations about a higher incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients receiving a variety of immunosuppressant drugs. However, we reported the rapid recovery from COVID-19 in a 67-year-old male with granulomatosis with polyangiitis who did not experience severe symptoms of the COVID-19 as expected, despite having a history of serious lung involvement due to the autoimmune disease. He received conventional medications to treat COVID-19, though he had been receiving rituximab and corticosteroids before the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Prevention of the cytokine storm caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection owing to taking the immunosuppressive drugs (rituximab and corticosteroids) could be a reason for these unexpected observations. Therefore, this case showed that taking immunosuppressive drugs is unlikely to be directly related to the increased severity of COVID-19.

Risk factors for severe infections in secondary immunodeficiency: a retrospective US administrative claims study in patients with hematological malignancies

Real-world data are lacking to identify patients with secondary immunodeficiency (SID) who may benefit most from anti-infective interventions. This retrospective analysis used the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database to assess baseline characteristics associated with risk of severe infections post-SID diagnosis in patients with hematological malignancies. In 4066 patients included, the mean number of any and severe infections per patient in the one-year pre-SID diagnosis period was 9.5 and 0.7, respectively. Post-SID diagnosis, the mean annualized number of any and severe infections was 19.1 and 1.5, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified a threshold (cutoff) of three bacterial infections at baseline as optimally predictive of severe infections post-SID diagnosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that hospitalizations, infections (≥3), or antibiotic use pre-SID diagnosis were predictive of severe infections post-SID diagnosis. Evaluation of these risk factors could inform clinical decisions regarding which patients may benefit from prophylactic anti-infective treatment, including immunoglobulin replacement if warranted.

Adverse Effects of Immunosuppression: Infections

Immunosuppressive therapies are currently indicated for a wide range of diseases. As new agents emerge and indications evolve the landscape grows increasingly complex. Therapies can target pathologic immune system over-activation in rheumatologic or autoimmune disease, or conditioning and graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylactic regimens may eliminate or inhibit host immune function to improve graft survival and risk of complication in solid organ transplantation (SOT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). With immunosuppressive therapy, infections occur. Complex disease states, host factors, and concomitant therapies contribute to a "net state" of immunosuppression that must be considered and may confound perceived increased infection risks in patients receiving treatment.

Cytomegalovirus Infections in Children with Primary and Secondary Immune Deficiencies

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a human herpes virus that causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed children. CMV primary infection causes a clinically mild disease in healthy children, usually in early childhood; the virus then utilises several mechanisms to establish host latency, which allows for periodic reactivation, particularly when the host is immunocompromised. It is this reactivation that is responsible for the significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. We review CMV infection in the primary immunodeficient host, including early identification of these infants by newborn screening to allow for CMV infection prevention strategies. Furthermore, clinical CMV is discussed in the context of children treated with secondary immunodeficiency, particularly paediatric cancer patients and children undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Treatments for CMV are highlighted and include CMV immunotherapy.

Peripheral B Cell Deficiency and Predisposition to Viral Infections: The Paradigm of Immune Deficiencies

In the era of COVID-19, understanding how our immune system responds to viral infections is more pertinent than ever. Immunodeficiencies with very low or absent B cells offer a valuable model to study the role of humoral immunity against these types of infection. This review looks at the available evidence on viral infections in patients with B cell alymphocytosis, in particular those with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), Good’s syndrome, post monoclonal-antibody therapy and certain patients with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID). Viral infections are not as infrequent as previously thought in these conditions and individuals with very low circulating B cells seem to be predisposed to an adverse outcome. Particularly in the case of SARS-CoV2 infection, mounting evidence suggests that peripheral B cell alymphocytosis is linked to a poor prognosis.

Rituximab for recurrence of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after kidney transplantation: Results of a nationwide study

Rituximab (RTX) therapy for primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis recurrence after kidney transplantation (KT) has been extensively debated. We aimed to assess the benefit of adding RTX to plasmapheresis (PP), corticosteroids, and calcineurin inhibitors (standard of care, SOC). We identified 148 adult patients who received KT in 12/2004-12/2018 at 21 French centers: 109 received SOC (Group 1, G1), and 39 received immediate RTX along with SOC (Group 2, G2). In G1, RTX was introduced after 28 days of SOC in the event of failure (G1a, n = 19) or PP withdrawal (G1b, n = 12). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 46.6% of patients, and partial remission (PR) was achieved in 33.1%. The 10-year graft survival rates were 64.7% and 17.9% in responders and nonresponders, respectively. Propensity score analysis showed no difference in CR+PR rates between G1 (82.6%) and G2 (71.8%) (p = .08). Following the addition of RTX (G1a), 26.3% of patients had CR, and 31.6% had PR. The incidence of severe infections was similar between patients treated with and without RTX. In multivariable analysis, infection episodes were associated with hypogammaglobulinemia <5 g/L. RTX could be used in cases of SOC failure or remission for early discontinuation of PP without increasing the risk of infection.

Late-onset complications with bendamustine versus CHOP or CVP based chemoimmunotherapy in indolent Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Bendamustine is a preferred first-line chemoimmunotherapy regimen for indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (iNHL). Emerging evidence suggests an increased incidence of late-onset complications with bendamustine-based regimens compared with CHOP/CVP; however, this evidence is limited. We retrospectively compared late-onset complications from January 2005 to May 2020 in adults with previously untreated iNHL who received rituximab or obinutuzumab with CHOP, CVP, or bendamustine. Forty-six patients received CHOP/CVP; 119 received bendamustine. No difference in incidence of late-onset infections was observed. Bendamustine led to a higher rate of prolonged and unresolved lymphocytopenia and a greater incidence of late-onset neutropenia. Many patients receiving bendamustine did not have lymphocyte recovery even three years following administration. Ongoing infection prophylaxis with bendamustine-based regimens may offset translation of these laboratory findings to late-onset infectious risk.

Antibody-independent functions of B cells during viral infections

The humoral immune response and antibody-mediated functions of B cells during viral infections are well described. However, we have limited understanding of antibody-independent B cell functions, such as cytokine production and antigen presentation, in acute and chronic viral infections and their role in protection and/or immunopathogenesis. Here, we summarize the current literature on these antibody-independent B cell functions and identify remaining knowledge gaps. B cell subsets produce anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can have both beneficial and detrimental effects during viral clearance. As professional antigen presenting cells, B cells also play an important role in immune regulation/shaping of the developing adaptive immune responses. Since B cells primarily express TLR7 and TLR9, we specifically discuss the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated B cell responses to viral infections and their role in augmenting adaptive immunity through enhanced cytokine production and antigen presentation. However, viruses have evolved strategies to subvert TLR signaling and additional stimulation via B cell receptor (BCR) may be required to overcome the defective TLR response in B cells. To conclude, antibody-independent B cell functions seem to have an important role in regulating both acute and chronic viral infections and may form the basis for novel therapeutic approaches in treatment of viral infections in the future.

Low symptomatic COVID-19 in an elderly patient with follicular lymphoma treated with rituximab-based immunotherapy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Follicular lymphoma is an indolent lymphoma that may progress to a highly aggressive form requiring immunochemotherapy. Most regimens utilize rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, which may affect the clinical course of novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)]. Here we describe the first case of mild COVID-19 during ongoing oncological treatment without significant deterioration after rituximab administration.

CASE SUMMARY

A 74-year-old female with an enlargement of her right palatine tonsil was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma following tonsillectomy and started immunochemotherapy according to the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone regimen. At home before the fourth cycle, she developed nonspecific symptoms (excessive fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea), misdiagnosed as adverse effects of chemotherapy. Unexpectedly, interim positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan, performed shortly before rituximab administration, revealed previously nonexistent pulmonary changes, potentially of infectious etiology. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a nasopharyngeal swab (with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test) performed the following day. Despite rituximab infusion, the patient remained oligosymptomatic and was discharged home for self-isolation. Having reached a negative SARS-CoV-2 status before the subsequently scheduled regimen, the patient successfully received six cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and obtained complete remission by positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

CONCLUSION

Our case shows that rituximab-based immunotherapy due to follicular lymphoma may have no evident negative effect on the COVID-19 clinical course.

On Cancer, COVID-19, and CT Scans: A Monocentric Retrospective Study

Background The use of computed tomography (CT) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis in an area of northern Italy with a high incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may have identified more patients with this disease than RT-PCR in the very early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 148 chest CT scans of oncological patients who were referred to the Radiological Unit of Policlinico S. Marco from 1 February 2020 to 30 April 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak in Bergamo area. In parallel, we analyzed RT-PCR tests of these 148 patients. Results Among 32 patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19, 17 patients were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms (53.1%), while 15 developed severe disease (46.8%). The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 22.9%, the mortality rate was 18.8%. We did not find any correlation between disease severity and age, sex, smoking, or cardiovascular comorbidities. Remarkably, patients who were on treatment for cancer developed a milder disease than patients who were not on treatment. Conclusions The acceptance of CT-defined diagnoses in COVID-19 high-incidence areas like Bergamo region highlighted a larger oncological population affected by COVID-19 than RT-PCR, in particular, asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, because only symptomatic patients underwent nasopharyngeal swabbing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed that patients actively treated for their cancer had a milder disease, in agreement with previous studies that suggested a protective role of immunosuppression. Admittedly, the sample of patients in our study was heterogeneous regarding the oncological disease, their prognosis, and the type of treatment; therefore, other studies are needed to confirm our data.

A rare urinary JC virus reactivation after long-term therapy with rituximab

The possible role of JC virus in determining urinary tract involvement has only recently been recognized. The case of a man with laboratory-confirmed JC virus replication in the urine after a maintenance schedule of rituximab administered for a lymphoproliferative disorder is reported herein. The patient developed severe renal and urinary tract impairment, characterized by the onset of nephropathy, bilateral ureteral strictures, and a serious reduction in vesical compliance, ultimately requiring an ileal neobladder configuration. The renal and urinary tract involvement was finally attributed to JC virus reactivation. This observation suggests that renal and urinary tract diseases related to JC virus might be associated with long-term rituximab treatment.

Rituximab in people living with HIV affected by immune-mediated renal diseases: a case-series

Over the last two decades, rituximab (RTX) has played an important role in the treatment of some lymphoproliferative malignancies and immune-mediated diseases. RTX administration is generally safe and well-tolerated, but side effects including late-onset neutropenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, hepatitis B reactivation and rare cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy have been observed after its administration. Although there are no absolute contraindications regarding its use in people living with HIV (PLWH), the prescription of this drug has been principally limited in patients with oncohematological diseases. In this report, we described the outcome of four PLWH who underwent RTX therapy after the diagnosis of immune-mediated renal disease. The main RTX-associated adverse effects were leukopenia, late-onset neutropenia and decline of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts. In addition, two of the four patients experienced pneumonia requiring hospitalization within six months from the last RTX infusion. We suggest that RTX should be used with caution in PLWH until further evidence emerges on its safety profile in this vulnerable population.

Infectious complications of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis during targeted and biological therapies: a viewpoint in 2020

Biological therapies have improved the outcomes of several major inflammatory, autoimmune and also neoplastic disorders. Those directed towards cytokines or other soluble mediators, cell-surface molecules or receptors or various components of intracellular signalling pathways may be associated with the occurrence of infections whose diversity depends on the particular immune target. In this context and following a keynote lecture given by one of us at the European League Against Rheumatism meeting on June 2018, a multidisciplinary group of experts deeply involved in the use of targeted and biological therapies in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis decided to summarise their recent vision of the immunological basis and epidemiology of infections occurring during targeted and biological therapies, and provide useful indications for their management and prevention.

Infection risk in autoimmune hematological disorders with low-dose rituximab treatment

Background

Rituximab has been widely used in many autoimmune diseases.

Aim

To evaluate the infection risk of rituximab in autoimmune hematological disorders.

Methods

Retrospectively studied and compared the clinical data of 89 patients in our hospital who used low‐dose rituximab (group R) or pulse cyclophosphamide (group C) for their refractory/relapsed autoimmune hematological diseases from January 2011 to January 2017. The kinds of their diseases included autoimmune hemolytic disease (AIHA), Evans syndrome, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). All patients chose either rituximab treatment or cyclophosphamide treatment on their own considerations.

Findings

The median follow‐up time was six months in group R and four months in group C. After treatments, the patients in group R showed higher white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil count than group C (P = .020, P = .037). CD20‐positive B cells in group R remained at a very low level after rituximab treatment and need about 15 months to return to normal level, which was longer than group C (six months). The incidence of infection in these two groups has no significant difference, which was 34.7% (17/30) in group R and 32.5% (13/28) in group C (P = .976). Tuberculosis infections after rituximab treatment were found in three patients for the first time.

Conclusion

The G‐CSF, nadir WBC count, and IgA level were protective factors of infection during rituximab treatment. Low‐dose rituximab therapy in autoimmune hematological diseases does not increase infection risk compared with cyclophosphamide.

Infectious Complications of Biological and Small Molecule Targeted Immunomodulatory Therapies

The past 2 decades have seen a revolution in our approach to therapeutic immunosuppression. We have moved from relying on broadly active traditional medications, such as prednisolone or methotrexate, toward more specific agents that often target a single receptor, cytokine, or cell type, using monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, or targeted small molecules. This change has transformed the treatment of many conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancers, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease, but along with the benefits have come risks. Contrary to the hope that these more specific agents would have minimal and predictable infectious sequelae, infectious complications have emerged as a major stumbling block for many of these agents. Furthermore, the growing number and complexity of available biologic agents makes it difficult for clinicians to maintain current knowledge, and most review articles focus on a particular target disease or class of agent. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge about infectious complications of biologic and small molecule immunomodulatory agents, aiming to create a single resource relevant to a broad range of clinicians and researchers. For each of 19 classes of agent, we discuss the mechanism of action, the risk and types of infectious complications, and recommendations for prevention of infection.

The Use of 20% Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Patients With B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma With Humoral Immune Dysfunction After Treatment With Rituximab

BACKGROUND

Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric antibody used to treat autoimmune conditions and B cell neoplasms. We characterized immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and vaccine responses in rituximab-treated B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. Patients with impaired vaccine responses were offered therapy with 20% subcutaneous (subq) Ig.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of B cell NHL who had received rituximab within the past 24 months were eligible for the study and underwent the following immune evaluation: serum IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, T/B cell lymphocyte panel, and pre/post vaccine IgG titers to diphtheria, tetanus, and streptococcus pneumoniae. Patients were vaccinated with tetanus, diphtheria and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Patients with abnormal vaccine responses were offered prophylactic subq Ig for 52 weeks.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with NHL were enrolled in the study. The median IgG was 628 mg/dL [interquartile range, 489-718 mg/dL]. Three (20%) of 15 patients responded to diphtheria vaccination, 1 (6.7%) of 15 responded to tetanus vaccination, and 3 (20%) of 15 responded to vaccination to streptococcus pneumoniae. Thirteen (86.7%) of 15 met criteria for humoral immunodeficiency. Ten patients received subq Ig, and experienced a significant increase in serum IgG (P = .008). There were no serious adverse events, and there was a decrease in nonneutropenic infections while on subq Ig therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NHL treated with rituximab may have significant humoral immunodeficiency as defined by abnormal vaccine responses even in the setting of relatively normal IgG levels. For these patients, subq Ig replacement therapy is well-tolerated and efficacious in improving serum IgG, and may decrease reliance on antibiotics for the treatment of nonneutropenic infections.

Fungal Infections Potentiated by Biologics

Biologic therapies including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and other agents represent a notable expansion in the pharmacotherapy armamentarium in treatment of a variety of diseases. Many of these therapies possess direct or indirect immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory effects, which have been associated with bacterial, viral, and fungal opportunistic infections. Careful screening of baseline risk factors before initiation, targeted preventive measures, and vigilant monitoring while on active biologic therapy mitigate these risks as use of biologics becomes more commonplace. This review compiles reported evidence of fungal infections associated with these agents with a focus on the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor class.

Real word evidence on rituximab utilization: Combining administrative and hospital-pharmacy data

PURPOSE

To describe patterns of utilization, survival and infectious events in patients treated with rituximab at the University Hospital of Siena (UHS) to explore the feasibility of combining routinely collected administrative and hospital-pharmacy data for examining the real-world use of intravenous antineoplastic drugs.

METHODS

A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study was conducted using data from the Hospital Pharmacy of Siena (HPS) and the Regional Administrative Database of Tuscany (RAD). Patients aged ≥18 years with ≥1 rituximab administration recorded between January 2012 and June 2016 were identified in the HPS database. Anonymized patient-level data were linked to RAD. Rituximab utilization during the first year of treatment was described using HPS. Hospital diagnoses of adverse infectious events that occurred during the first year of follow-up and four-year survival were observed using RAD.

RESULTS

A total of 311 new users of rituximab were identified: 264 patients received rituximab for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 47 were treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Among new users with one complete year of follow-up (n = 203) over 95% received rituximab as the first-line treatment, and approximately 70% of them received 5-8 doses. No patient in the CLL group received >8 administrations. Four-year survival was approximately 70% in both CLL and NHL patients. Sepsis was the most frequent infectious event observed (5.1%).

CONCLUSION

HPS and RAD provided complementary information on rituximab utilization, demonstrating their potential for future pharmacoepidemiological studies on antineoplastic medications administered in the Italian hospital setting. Overall, this general description of the real-world utilization of rituximab in patients treated for NHL and CLL at UHS was in line with treatment guidelines and current knowledge on the rituximab safety profile.

What's Hot in HIV in 2019-A Basic and Translational Science Summary for Clinicians From IDWeek 2019

The field of HIV research is constantly evolving, and every year brings advances that draw us closer to ending the HIV epidemic. Here, we present a nonexhaustive overview of select notable studies in HIV prevention, cure, and treatment, published in the last year as presented at IDWeek 2019: What’s Hot in HIV Basic Science. The past year brought interesting results on the use of broadly neutralizing antibodies for treatment and prevention, gene-editing approaches to HIV cure, and new ways to measure the HIV reservoir. We also saw encouraging results on novel HIV vaccine delivery strategies and how these may influence effective immune responses. Lastly, in the area of inflammation, some mechanistic insights were made into the contribution of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and potential new targets to reduce HIV-associated chronic inflammation. The future from where we stand is bright for HIV research, with much more to look forward to in 2020.

Mucormycosis in lung transplant recipients: A systematic review of the literature and a case series

BACKGROUND

Mucormycosis is a rare infection in lung transplant recipients (LTR). Our objective was to better define the clinical presentation and optimal management of this frequently lethal infection.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify all published cases of mucormycosis in LTR using PubMed/MEDLINE. These cases were analyzed together with a new case series from our clinic.

RESULTS

Literature search yielded 44 articles matching the inclusion criteria, describing 121 cases. Six additional cases were identified from our clinic. Data regarding infection site and outcome were available for a total of 53 patients. The lungs were the most common site of infection (62%), followed by rhinocerebral and disseminated disease. Most cases (78%) developed in the first post-transplant year, with over 40% of them in the first month. Additional risk factors for mucormycosis were identified in over half of the patients. Surgical debridement was uncommon in pulmonary infection (9%). Posaconazole therapy was used in 35% of cases, mostly in combination with amphotericin B. Overall mortality was 32% but varied according to site of infection.

CONCLUSION

Mucormycosis in LTRs tends to be an early post-surgical infection, associated with additional risk factors and intensified immunosuppressive states, and most often affects the lungs, where surgical debridement is rarely feasible. Posaconazole as first-line therapy should be further explored.

Hypogammaglobulinemia and bacterial infections following pediatric post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in the rituximab era

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of PTLD using immune-depleting agents such as RTX may be associated with increased risk of infections. The aim of this report was to describe the incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia and bacterial infections in children with PTLD after SOT at a single center since the introduction of RTX.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted over a study period of 2000-2016 in pediatric patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven PTLD based on the WHO histologic criteria. Hypogammaglobulinemia was defined by serum IgG <4 g/L; CPBI was defined by clinically significant infection by an identified pathogenic bacteria isolated from a normally sterile body site.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were included, comprising 16 LTx and 12 ITx patients, and 17 patients received RTX therapy. Total of 31 episodes of CPBI occurred in 16 patients. Incidence of CPBI was 31.4 infections per 100 patient-years in RTX-treated patients, as compared to 8.4 infections per 100 patient-years in non-RTX-treated patients (P < 0.001). Hypogammaglobulinemia was significantly more prevalent after 6 months (P = 0.001) and 2 years (P = 0.005) in RTX-treated patients, as compared to none in the group that did not receive RTX. Hypogammaglobulinemia (P = 0.047), ITx (P = 0.027), and monomorphic PTLD (P = 0.024) were significantly associated with recurrent (≥2) CPBI and/or CPBI-related deaths within the first year post-PTLD.

CONCLUSION

While RTX is an effective treatment for PTLD, hypogammaglobulinemia can persist for up to 2 years following RTX therapy, which may be associated with the higher cumulative rates of CPBI observed in RTX-treated patients.

Rituximab in autoimmune pemphigoid diseases: Indications, optimized regimens, and practice gaps

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 on B cells with proven efficacy for pemphigus vulgaris, now an FDA-approved indication. Other autoimmune bullous diseases can be challenging to treat and have significant associated morbidity and mortality, but data supporting the use of rituximab in pemphigoid group diseases remain limited. Although rituximab demonstrates efficacy for clinical improvement and remission in pemphigoid, concern for adverse events may also limit the use of this medication. We review the current evidence fo rthe use of rituximab in pemphigoid diseases, pertinent dosing schedules and laboratory monitoring, and the associated common and rare adverse events. Review of the literature to date not only supports consideration of rituximab for treatment of refractory pemphigoid group diseases but also reflects tolerability and an acceptable safety profile.

Ecthyma gangrenosum in a 3-year-old boy post-heart transplantation

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a serious bacterial infection in immunocompromised patients. EG in transplant recipients is rarely reported and may go unrecognized, which may delay initiation of appropriate treatment. We report a case of EG in a pediatric heart transplant recipient who was treated successfully with antibiotics and surgical debridement.

Infection risks of rituximab versus non-rituximab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in infection rates between rituximab (RTX) and non-RTX treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library through to June 2018. We included studies that compared RTX and non-RTX treatment for patients with RA. Outcome measures were overall infections and serious infections between RTX and non-RTX treatments.

RESULTS

A total of 11 articles, including 9502 patients (4595 with RTX treatment and 4907 with non-RTX treatment) met our inclusion criteria. The results demonstrated that RTX-related all infections and serious infections in RA patients were 43.8% and 4.4%, respectively. Pooled analysis showed no significant differences between RTX and non-RTX treatment groups in overall infections rate (43.3% vs 44.9%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.70-1.08) and serious infections rate (4.1% vs 4.6%; OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.84-1.31). Subgroup analysis also showed no significant differences in overall infections between RTX versus placebo (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.71-1.33); RTX versus tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.30-1.73); RTX plus methotrexate (MTX) versus placebo plus MTX (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.77-1.24), and in serious infections between RTX versus placebo (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.36-3.07); RTX versus TNFi (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.96-1.63); RTX plus MTX versus placebo plus MTX (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.39-1.20).

CONCLUSION

In patients with RA, RTX treatment has no additional risks for infections over non-RTX treatment.

Effects of Rituximab on Atherosclerotic Biomarkers in Kidney Transplant Recipients

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Rituximab is widely used in kidney transplantation for a variety of situations, and rituximab may inhibit some cytokines and antibodies that may play an active role in the atherosclerotic process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab on atherosclerosis biomarkers in kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS

All patients, 18 years of age and older, who underwent kidney transplantation and received at least 1 dose of 375 mg/m² rituximab were considered for participation in this study. The primary study endpoint was the development of cardiovascular diseases after rituximab therapy. The secondary endpoint was the onset of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease or biopsy-confirmed BK virus nephropathy. In addition, comparison of atherosclerosis biomarkers was performed between study and control groups.

RESULTS

There were no cardiovascular events observed during follow up. Only 8 patients in the study group suffered from CMV disease during follow up. Serum interleukin 10 levels were significantly higher in the rituximab group compared with the control group, although anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were lower in the rituximab group compared with the control group, though this did not achieve statistical significance.

DISCUSSION

Rituximab treatment may increase the risk of CMV reactivation and decrease lymphocyte counts and interleukin 10 levels; however, significant decreases in all atherosclerotic-related biomarkers have not been shown in our study.

Acute Toxoplasma Dissemination With Encephalitis in the Era of Biological Therapies

We report the case of a 65-year-old patient with pseudolymphoma who developed acute toxoplasmosis following 6 cycles of rituximab and bendamustine therapy. Acute toxoplasmosis in the setting of biological response modifiers, rather than reactivation, is a unique unreported infection. The patient developed severe disease with multi-organ involvement, including retinitis, myocarditis, and myositis. We discuss the clinical findings, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnosis.

Serious infection risk after 1 year between patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab or with a second TNFi after initial TNFi failure: results from The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objectives

Both TNF inhibitors (TNFi) and rituximab (RTX), a B-cell depleting biologic, can disrupt the immune system in RA. RTX is licensed in Europe for use following TNFi failure. However, safety data on serious infections (SIs) are scarce for RTX in daily practice. This analysis aims to compare the risk of SIs in the first year after a switch to either TNFi or RTX in patients who have failed a first TNFi.

Methods

This study included patients with RA registered with the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-RA) who switched to either a second TNFi or RTX after failing a first TNFi. Patients were followed until first SI, treatment discontinuation, last recorded follow-up or the end of the first year after the switch, whichever came first. SI was defined as requiring hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics or resulting in death. The risk of first SI was compared between TNFi and RTX using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted using propensity scores using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Results

This analysis included 3419 TNFi and 1396 RTX patients contributing 2765 and 1224 person-years (pyrs), respectively. SI occurred in 164 (4.8%) TNFi and 81 (5.8%) RTX patients giving a crude rate of 59 and 66 SI/1000 pyrs, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for SI was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.7, 1.4).

Conclusion

The risk of SIs was comparable over the first year of treatment between TNFi and RTX treatment in patients who had failed a single prior TNFi.