Session Speaker

Progress in Rituximab
M. El Habbash
Libya

Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody that has shown substantial activity.

I will review the uses of Rituximab against B-cell hematological malignancy as indolent and aggressive non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and other non malignant disorders as monotherapy or in combination with other chemotherapy.

It is first monoclonal antibody licensed for treatment of NHL; it has been approved by food and drug administration in USA in Nov. 1997.

Studies in CLL indicate that Rituximab can be effective in reducing the lymphocyte count &induce remission in this disease.

Rituximab has shown efficacy in a variety of CD20 positive malignancy other than NHL and CLL, including post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders PTLD, Hairy cell leukemia, HIV associated lymphoma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia and Multiple Myeloma.

In last 9 years, Rituximab has been used in treatment of several autoimmune diseases and the results is promising.

Rituximab significantly inhibit radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis with an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more TNFa inhibitors

Several open clinical trial suggest that Rituximab is a promising candidate for randomised controlled trials in patients with lupus nephritis refractory to the conventional immunosuppressive therapy

Encouraging anecdotal reports have appeared for a potential response to Rituximab of patients with polymyositis, dermatomyositis, ITP, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, hemolytic anemia, myasthenia gravis, Wegener’s granulomatosis and Sjogren syndrome.