Abstract
Rituximab is a useful drug for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and its use has been extended to other diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. One serious complication associated with rituximab use is reactivation of hepatitis B virus, and the search for methods to prevent this occurrence has resulted in a rapid accumulation of knowledge in recent years. In this review, we will discuss case studies from our group, as well as other groups, and outline current knowledge on the topic together with issues that remain to be resolved.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / adverse effects*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
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Hepatitis / blood
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Hepatitis / etiology*
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Hepatitis / immunology
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Hepatitis / prevention & control
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Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood
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Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity
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Hepatitis B virus / physiology*
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Humans
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Immunosuppression Therapy
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Lamivudine / therapeutic use
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy*
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology
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Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy*
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Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / immunology
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Rituximab
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Virus Activation
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Virus Replication
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
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Hepatitis B Antibodies
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Lamivudine
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Rituximab