The findings provide a rationale for administering polysaccharide and primary immunizations before rituximab infusions in RA patients, Dr. Bingham concluded. During the question-and-answer session, he agreed that in some patients in whom pretreatment immunization is not feasible, reimmunization may boost the level of immune response. “Even during the period of B-cell depletion, 57% of the rituximab group did respond to at least one serotype and 42% responded to at least two serotypes, so there is some efficacy,” he said.
Dr. Bingham has served as a consultant to Genentech Inc. and to Roche.
This provides a rationale for administering polysaccharide and primary immunizations before rituximab.
Source Dr. Bingham