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Rituximab-associated Hypogammaglobulinemia in pediatric patients with autoimmune diseases.

Amer M KhojahMichael L MillerMarisa S Klein-GitelmanMegan L CurranVictoria HansLauren M PachmanRamsay L Fuleihan
Published in: Pediatric rheumatology online journal (2019)
The prevalence of hypogammaglobulinemia in rituximab treated children with autoimmune disease seems to be higher than published data for adults, especially for children with autoimmune CNS disease. The onset of hypogammaglobulinemia is usually within six months of initiation of rituximab therapy. We recommend: 1) obtaining an IgG level prior to starting rituximab; 2) close monitoring for hypogammaglobulinemia after the use of rituximab in pediatric patients and 3) early institution of immunoglobulin replacement therapy if patients develop recurrent infections.
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