Infections, low IgG ‘common’ in children on rituximab
Boston hospital study suggests corticosteroids compound the risk, researchers say.
A significant proportion of children and young adults with rheumatological diseases develop new-onset hypogammaglobulinaemia and infections following treatment with rituximab, US researchers report.
Furthermore, exposure to a pulse of corticosteroids appears to raise the odds of such complications, they say.
Harvard University researchers examined records for 85 children and young adults who were treated at Boston Children’s hospital from 2009-2019.
Participants were aged between six and 24 years and had received rituximab for childhood-onset rheumatological disease.
