Rituximab for AIHA

Overview
Rituximab is a generic prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of some types of lymphoma, leukemia, and arthritis. Rituximab is sometimes prescribed off-label as first-line therapy, with or without steroids, for people who have either cold or warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Rituximab is also known by the brand name Rituxan.

Rituximab is an immunomodulator, meaning it is a drug that modulates the immune system. It is also considered a biologic. It is a genetically engineered antibody, or protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize substances. In people with AIHA, rituximab is believed to work by targeting white blood cells that create the antibodies which prematurely destroy red blood cells.

How do I take it?
Rituximab is administered as intravenous infusions, usually once a week for four weeks, for treating AIHA. Infusion usually requires two to four hours each. While treatment has been shown to cause complete remission for some patients, for other patients, treatment effects wear off after a few months.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions exactly when taking rituximab.

Side effects
Common side effects of rituximab include headache, dizziness, fever and chills, nausea, heartburn, and flushed skin.

Rare but serious side effects of rituximab include tumor lysis syndrome, cardiac adverse reactions, kidney toxicity, bowel obstructions, and fetal harm during pregnancy.

Rituximab can cause life-threatening side effects. Rituximab has caused severe infusion reactions and serious infections in some people. In rare cases, rituximab has been linked to a serious brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Tell your doctor immediately if you experience neurological symptoms such as confusion, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes, difficulty talking or walking, or trouble concentrating.

You may be more likely to contract infections, including serious infections, due to decreased immune system function while taking rituximab. Contact your doctor if you develop signs of infection such as fever, cough, trouble breathing, white patches in the mouth, pain or burning during urination, or unusual vaginal discharge.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Rituximab in the Treatment of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia — Cancer Network
https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/rituximab-tr...

Rituximab Use in Warm and Cold Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia — Journal of Clinical Medicine
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC77...

Rituxan (Rituximab) Prescribing Information — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/rituxan_presc...