Bernardo L. Rapoport, MD, chief medical oncologist, The Medical Oncology Center of Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, discusses infections associated with anti-CD20 treatment.
Bernardo L. Rapoport, MD, chief medical oncologist, The Medical Oncology Center of Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, discusses infections associated with anti-CD20 treatment.
Rapoport says the incidences of infections are higher than what is reported during phase III studies. Even though anti-CD20 agents improve progression-free survival in patients with follicular lymphoma, a meta-analysis of this population shows that the incidence of infection from the drug is higher in those patients who do not receive anti-CD20 agents.
Rapoport says it is important for physicians and nurses to know the signs of infection or progression when dealing with anti-CD20 agents. For example, some patients may present with pulmonary infiltration, which could be a sign of progression or an infection but it could also just be a side effect of the agent.