SynthesisAdvances in rheumatology (London, England)2025
Rituximab combined with intravenous immunoglobulin in autoimmune diseases: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Advances in rheumatology (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough using Rituximab (RTX) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) alone or sequentially is a well-established treatment for several autoimmune diseases, the combination of these two forms of therapy is still rare, and its use is poorly studied.
aimTo perform a systematic review on the use of RTX associated with IVIG in autoimmune conditions.
methodsPubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scielo databases were screened for articles on RTX plus IVIg in autoimmune diseases until May 2024.
resultsThe review encompassed 21 studies evaluating RTX and IVIg for autoimmune diseases. Ten studies focused on pemphigus, involving 85 patients with diverse subtypes (47 pemphigus vulgaris, 27 pemphigoids, and 11 other variants). Most were case reports or series, with one retrospective study including controls. Positive outcomes were reported across all but one case of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Infections, such as P. jirovecii pneumonia, were noted in three studies, highlighting a potential risk. The other 11 studies involved 24 patients with conditions like polyneuropathies, lupus with CNS involvement, and neuromyelitis optica. While most reported favorable outcomes, one trial on IVIg-dependent polyneuropathies found RTX ineffective in reducing IVIg needs. Adverse events included pneumonia, venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolism, and infusion reactions, demonstrating the need for careful monitoring.
conclusionRTX plus IVIg seems to be an alternative option for the treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases. However, more studies with a larger number of participants and in different autoimmune diseases are desired.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.