RECENT EVIDENCE ON THE USE OF RITUXIMAB IN BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/b1qcrz54Keywords:
Bullous pemphigoid; Rituximab; Blistering diseases; Biological therapy.Abstract
Abstract
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of blisters and erythematous lesions that primarily affect the skin. Traditionally treated with systemic corticosteroids, rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been investigated as a therapeutic alternative. This study aimed to review the available scientific literature on the use of rituximab in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy and therapeutic safety. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed database using the search strategy with the descriptors “rituximab” AND “bullous pemphigoid.” The initial search identified 202 articles. After applying filters for publication within the last five years, free full-text availability, and studies conducted in humans, 31 studies remained. Subsequently, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in the selection of 12 articles that directly addressed the use of rituximab in the management of bullous pemphigoid, focusing on efficacy and safety outcomes. The analyzed studies demonstrated high efficacy of rituximab as an alternative treatment for refractory and severe cases, even at lower doses. The main benefit is the corticosteroid-sparing effect, in addition to enabling non-continuous therapy. There are reservations regarding its safety, particularly concerning the incidence of infections during rituximab use. The data obtained from this study allow the conclusion that rituximab therapy is promising despite adverse effects; however, the small number of studies and reduced population samples reinforce the need for prospective and controlled clinical trials to better define its dosage, maintenance, and long-term safety profile.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sindry Emanuelle Carvalho Lima, Ana Caroline Santos Andrade, David Leandro Moreno Leon, Marcela Machado Aguiar Amorim, Ana Clara Andrade de Oliveira, Naiana Oliveira Alves, Luma Rezende Barreto Faria, Aderito José Oliveira Botelho, Luilla Araújo Magnavita Jacobina, Júlia Gabriela Conserva Souza
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