rituximab biosimilar / Apotex - LARVOL DELTA

Bullous Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (RheumNow) - "Systemic and internal organ involvement occurs in up to 90% patients - including lupus nephritis (classes III-V), arthritis, and cytopenias; yet serositis and neuropsychiatric involvement are rare. Treatment of BSLE should include the use of dapsone milder cases w/ less systemic disease. More aggressive cases may require rituximab, other immunosuppressive agents and glucocorticoids. The key pathogenic insult includes the formation of autoantibodies against type VII collagen, which weaken the basement membrane zone and lead to the formation of subepidermal blisters."

Online posting

Rituximab Induction and Maintenance in Older ANCA–Associated Vasculitis Patients (RheumNow) - "Use of RTX therapy was effective at achieving and mainting remission in older AAV patients. The high incidence of serious infections and death when RTX was used during induction therapy may related to being combined with high-dose glucocorticoid regimens in older patients."

Online posting

Immune Thrombocytopenia Treatment: Rituximab and Splenectomy (Pharmacy Times) - "Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, FASHP, FAzPA: I'm in agreement with David. We're seeing less and less splenectomy. It was a go-to for many years, and it makes sense. There's an autoimmune activation in the spleen, which drops down after you have either a partial or a full splenectomy."

Video