Quote:
Originally Posted by alice md
Well, Rituxan, which I'm about to start getting, is a form of chemotherapy. It's the chemo used for lymphoma, but it has been showing some promise in treating MG as well, especially people who are MuSK positive. I'm seronegative, but the doc wants to try it anyway, so I'm going to do it. I'll let you know what happens!
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Quote:
Rituxan is not chemotherapy, it is immunotherapy.
we used to treat patients with lymphoma with chemotherapy, but now it is almost the mainstay of treatment to give immunochemotherapy.
the word chemotherapy doesn't really mean much. as any chemical given as treatment can be considered chemotherapy, including antibiotics.
it just becme a word for those medications that were given fror cancer, caused a lot of horrible side effects, like nausea, hair loss, etc.
hopefully we are gradually able to make our treatments for cancer much more targeted, and much less toxic.
the short term side effect profile of Rituxan is much more like IVIG then "chemotherapy". and long term it is probably much less then steroids.
alice
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Here's more info:
Information on Rituxan / rituximab / MabThera - a monoclonal antibody
chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
http://www.lymphomainfo.net/therapy/...herapy/rituxan....
Side Effects
Patients may have adverse or severe reactions from Rituxan. For this reason, they should be closely monitored during drug administration, especially during the first dose. Also, live virus vaccinations should not be administered while a patient is being treated with Rituxan.
The most common side effects are infusion reactions, like fever, chills, and fatigue. Infection can also occur as a result of lymphopenia (the depletion of B-cells), which weakens the immune system. Some patients may suffer from more severe reactions than others.
Less common, but more severe symptoms include
Bowel Obstruction and Perforation: Minor to severe discomfort may be experienced after the administration of Rituxan. Patients should inform their doctor if this occurs.
Arrhythmias: Minor to severe heart problems can arise from the use of Rituxan.
Hepatitis B Reactivation: A patient previously infected with Hepatitis B may suffer from reactivation of the disease. This can lead to liver failure if left untreated.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome: This phenomenon occurs when cancerous cells are broken down, releasing harmful toxins into the blood. Renal damage or failure can occur when the kidneys try to filter out those toxins.
Severe Mucocutaneous Reactions: These skin reactions usually occur near the body’s orifices, like the lips. Reactions vary by patient, and can involve a minor skin lesion or more severe eruption.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): This rare and extremely severe disease is causes by the JC virus. It affects the brain and can prove fatal.
Symptoms can usually be reversed if treated early. Talk to your doctor immediately if you suffer from any symptoms while on Rituxan treatments.