Myocardial Infarction after Rituximab Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is there a Link?

Title:Myocardial Infarction after Rituximab Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is there a Link?

Volume: 20 Issue: 4

Author(s): Alper M. van Sijl, Wilfred van der Weele and Michael T. Nurmohamed

Affiliation:

Keywords: Rituximab, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody often used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Infusion reactions sometimes develop following rituximab administration. Delayed complications are rare. Acute coronary syndromes are listed as sideeffects of rituximab therapy. We report two cases of acute myocardial infarction following rituximab therapy for RA and review the literature regarding cardiac events in patients treated with rituximab. We would like to raise awareness of this possible complication in patients treated with rituximab.

Cite this article as:

Sijl M. van Alper, Weele van der Wilfred and Nurmohamed T. Michael, Myocardial Infarction after Rituximab Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is there a Link?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113199990386