A prospective study of left ventricle function after treatment with rapid-infusion Rituximab in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Rituximab protects against development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease after kidney transplantation: a propensity-matched study

Recent studies have implicated B cells in atherosclerosis and have verified the atheroprotective effect of rituximab. Rituximab is widely used for desensitization in ABO-incompatible or crossmatch-positive kidney transplantation (KT). Using a single-center KT database, we performed propensity-matched analysis to investigate the association between rituximab and posttransplant atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Among 1299 eligible patients, 239 given rituximab induction were matched with 401 controls in a 1:2 propensity score matching process. The cumulative rate of ASCVD during 8 years of follow-up was significantly lower in rituximab-treated patients, compared with matched controls (3.7% vs. 11.2%; P = 0.012). However, all-cause mortality did not differ by group (2.9% vs. 4%; P = 0.943). In multivariable Cox analysis, rituximab proved independently protective of ASCVD (hazard ratio = 0.34, 95% confidence interval: 0.14–0.83). The lower risk of ASCVD seen with rituximab induction reached significance only in patient subsets of diabetes mellitus, pretransplant dialysis, or older age (>50 years). Rituximab induction confers a lower risk of ASCVD during the posttransplant period. This atheroprotective effect appears particularly beneficial in patients whose risk of ASCVD is heightened.

Infusion Rate Escalation Study of Rituximab in Patients with CD20+ B-Cell Lymphomas: A Single Institution Analysis in Japan

Background. To determine the maximum tolerable infusion rate of rituximab, and investigate the safety and feasibility of rapid infusion of rituximab for patients with CD20 positive B-cell lymphomas (CD20+NHL). Patients and Methods. 18 patients with CD20+NHL were registered. This study had six cohorts of administration rate of rituximab. The median age was 56 years (range, 38–79), and five of 18 patients were male. Two patients (11%) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were receiving R-CHOP therapy, two (11%) with indolent lymphoma were receiving R-CVP therapy, and 14 (78%) with indolent lymphoma were receiving rituximab as maintenance therapy. Results. A total of 88 cycles of rituximab was administered. Rapid infusion of rituximab was well tolerated, with only one grade 3 leukocytepenia and one grade 4 neutropenia. Four patients (22%) developed grade 1 infusion-related toxicities at the first administration of rituximab. No patient with severe drug-related events was observed. Conclusions. We determined that the maximum tolerable infusion rate of rituximab is 300 mL/h (under 700 mg/h), and confirmed that administration of over 60 minutes is safe and feasible. We recommend rapid administration of rituximab for practice setting in patients with CD20+NHL being treated with rituximab or rituximab-containing chemotherapy. (Clinical trial no. JFCR2009-1027).

Chemotherapy-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a rapidly reversible form of acute heart failure classically triggered by stressful events. It is associated with a distinctive left ventricular contraction pattern described as apical akinesis/ballooning with hyperdynamic contraction of the basal segments in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. The traditional paradigm has expanded to include other causes, in particular chemotherapeutic drugs. The literature increasingly suggests an association between cancer, chemotherapeutic drugs, and stress cardiomyopathy. Chemotherapy-induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a relatively new phenomenon, but one that merits detailed attention to the elucidation of possible mechanistic links.

Safety of rapid rituximab infusion in adult cancer patients: a systematic review

The purpose of this study is to critically appraise, synthesize and present the best available evidence related to the safety of rapid rituximab infusion in adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients. Data are from published and unpublished studies from electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists. The studies that met the inclusion criteria were critically appraised by two independent reviewers for methodological validity using standardized critical appraisal instruments. Proportional meta-analysis based on DerSimonian-Laird weights using a random effects model was used for statistical pooling through Stats Direct. Heterogeneity is assessed using Cochran Q. When statistical pooling is not possible, the findings were presented in narrative summary. Rapid rituximab infusion is safe for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients at a 90 min regimen. However, there is insufficient evidence to support rapid rituximab infusions for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients.