[Alteration in antibody-mediated immunity in patients with rituximab-combined chemotherapy and incidence of herpes zoster]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2010 Jan;37(1):99-102.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the CD20 protein, has an antineoplastic effect resulting from antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). In patients with rituximab-combined chemotherapy, a decline in immunoglobulin can be observed. This is more likely to cause virus reactivation, such as Herpes (H) zoster. However, this fact has not reported in a large-scale study. In order to research immunodeficiency conditions in patients with rituximab-combined therapy, we examined the alteration in immunoglobulin level throughout the treatment among 205 cases with B-cell lymphoma. We also studied the prevalence of H. zoster in those cases. The IgG level throughout the treatment was measured in 89 patients in the research. The median post-chemotherapy IgG level was 41.1% lower than its pre-chemotherapy IgG level. In 58 cases, the IgG level following chemotherapy was below the normal level. In 22 cases, the IgG level dropped to less than half of the pre-chemotherapy level. H. zoster developed in 17 cases (8.3%). There was no significant difference in IgG level between H. zoster-onset cases and non-H. zoster-onset cases. Antibody-mediated immunity can decrease greatly and prolong in cases with rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. Therefore, infection control is considered to be important.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Herpes Zoster / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects*
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulins / analysis
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / economics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rituximab
  • Virus Activation

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Rituximab