The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 121, Issue 1 , Pages 122-128 , January 2008

Anti-CD20 (rituximab) treatment improves atopic eczema

  • Dagmar Simon, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Susanne Hösli, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Ganna Kostylina, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Nikhil Yawalkar, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Hans-Uwe Simon, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Hans-Uwe Simon, MD, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.

Received 2 October 2007 ,Revised 14 November 2007 ,Accepted 14 November 2007.

  • Image Result

    Study design. I.V., Intravenous.

    Study design. I.V., Intravenous.

  • Image Result

    Rituximab improves AE symptoms in association with B-cell depletion in blood. A, Clinical response within 4 weeks, after 2 rituximab infusions, in patient 5. B, Time-dependent EASI reduction after rit

    Rituximab improves AE symptoms in association with B-cell depletion in blood. A, Clinical response within 4 weeks, after 2 rituximab infusions, in patient 5. B, Time-dependent EASI reduction after rituximab treatment. P values of significant differences are indicated. C, Effect of rituximab on circulating B-cell (CD20+) numbers in each of the 6 patients (P 1-6).

  • Image Result
    Histologic features of patients with AE before and after rituximab treatment (week 8). A, Hematoxylin and eosin–stained skin biopsy specimens (×200). B, Statistical analysis of hyperkeratosis, acantho

    Histologic features of patients with AE before and after rituximab treatment (week 8). A, Hematoxylin and eosin–stained skin biopsy specimens (×200). B, Statistical analysis of hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, spongiosis, and dermal infiltrate. P values of significant differences are indicated.

  • Image Result
    Identification of dermal infiltrating cells by immunofluorescence analysis. A, Statistical analysis on the numbers of inflammatory cells in skin lesions of patients with AE before and after rituximab

    Identification of dermal infiltrating cells by immunofluorescence analysis. A, Statistical analysis on the numbers of inflammatory cells in skin lesions of patients with AE before and after rituximab treatment (week 8). P values of significant differences are indicated. B, Representative original results of the identification of dermal infiltrating cells (×1000).

  • Image Result
    Expression of cytokines in skin biopsy specimens before and after rituximab treatment (week 8) as determined by double immunofluorescence analysis. A, Statistical analysis on the numbers of cytokine-p

    Expression of cytokines in skin biopsy specimens before and after rituximab treatment (week 8) as determined by double immunofluorescence analysis. A, Statistical analysis on the numbers of cytokine-producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells in skin lesions of patients with AE. P values of significant differences are indicated. B, Representative original results of the data presented in A (CD4+; ×1000).

 Supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (310000-107526) and Roche Pharma AG, Reinach.

 Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have received research support from Roche Pharma AG.

PII: S0091-6749(07)02253-1

doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.11.016

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 121, Issue 1 , Pages 122-128 , January 2008

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