TY - JOUR T1 - Low-Dose Rituximab for Bullous Pemphigoid. Protocol and Single-Center Experience JO - Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas T2 - AU - Suárez-Carantoña,C. AU - Jiménez-Cauhé,J. AU - González-García,A. AU - Fernández-Guarino,M. AU - Asunción Ballester,M. SN - 00017310 M3 - 10.1016/j.ad.2021.10.018 DO - 10.1016/j.ad.2021.10.018 UR - https://actasdermo.org/es-low-dose-rituximab-for-bullous-pemphigoid--articulo-S0001731022006342 AB - BackgroundLow-dose rituximab is a protocol used in several autoimmune diseases, that has also shown to be effective and safe in pemphigus vulgaris. ObjectivesTo study whether low-dose rituximab is also effective for bullous pemphigoid. MethodsPatients with BP were treated with a single cycle of two infusions of rituximab 500mg at an interval of 2 weeks. Early and late end points were monitored. ResultsSix patients, five males and a female, with a mean age of 78.6 years (range 65–89) and a mean history of BP of 6.7 months (range 2–16) were included. A rapid and marked response was observed after a single cycle of treatment, with a mean time to disease control and to end of consolidation phase of 1.9 (range 1–3), and 4 weeks (range 3–5), respectively. Four patients achieved a late end point at a mean of 15.75 weeks (range 13–20). Three of them achieved partial remission with no therapy (two patients) or with minimal therapy (one patient), and one of them achieved complete remission with no therapy. One patient has 6 weeks of clinical follow-up after rituximab administration. The remaining patient relapsed 4 weeks after the rituximab treatment, and remains in complete remission with more than minimal therapy. One patient had a herpetic gingivostomatitis related to rituximab. ConclusionsLow-dose rituximab for BP achieved acceptable remission rates and steroid-sparing activity, with a better safety profile and a lower cost, compared to standard doses. This pilot study suggests that low-dose rituximab could be a therapeutic option for BP. ER -