Rituximab improves atopic eczema in a small study

Atopic dermatitis or eczema (AE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by:
- eczematous skin lesions
- pruritus
- typical histopathologic features: spongiosis, acanthosis, and dermal infiltrate

B cells play a major role in the AE pathogenesis. Monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody therapy (rituximab) leads to a decrease in B cells, and therefore, could improve AE.

In a small study of 6 patients, rituximab led to an impressive improvement of AE in patients with severe disease within 4-8 weeks. Although peripheral blood B cells were undetectable due to rituximab use, skin B cells were decreased by 50% only.

Atopic Dermatitis Treatment - Illustrated (click here for full size image).

References:

Anti-CD20 (rituximab) treatment improves atopic eczema. Volume 121, Issue 1, Pages 122-128 (January 2008).

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab helps patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) (Lancet, 2011).
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.