A 66-year-old female patient returns for a second infusion of rituximab for her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in multiple sites. She is rheumatoid factor positive. She says the pain in her knees, elbows and neck has slightly improved. She rates the severity of her pain at a 7 on a 10-point scale, which is an… [Read More]
Take the challenge. CPT Codes: 96413, 96415 x 3, J9312 x 5, 96375, J2920 Diagnoses: M05.79 Coding Rationale As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code for rituximab was changed from J9310 rituximab 100 mg, to the new HCPCS code J9312 (injection, rituximab, 100 mg). According to a Verywell Health… [Read More]
The FDA has approved Truxima (rituximab-abbs), which is biosimilar to Rituxan (rituximab), for treating adults with CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma…... [Read More]
Researchers sought to identify predictors of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) who took rituximab for maintenance had a better sustained remission rate through 60 months than those taking azathioprine, according to the latest results from the maintenance of remission using rituximab in systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis (MAINRITSAN) trial, a prospective, randomized trial… [Read More]
Rheumatologists prescribe rituximab for induction and maintenance treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitides (AAV). Maintenance treatment typically employs fixed-schedule dosing, but in the recent maintenance of remission using rituximab in systemic ANCA-associated vasculitis II (MAINRITSAN2) trial, researchers from the French Vasculitis Study Group examined whether individually tailored maintenance dosing might work better. “The… [Read More]
The FDA has approved an update for rituximab’s label, which will include safety and efficacy information for treating ANCA-associated vasculitis…... [Read More]
Severe infections occurred in 25% of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) who were treated with rituximab, according to results of an observational study conducted in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Austria. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis, however, reduced the risk of severe infections, the investigators reported in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.1 Andreas… [Read More]
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in connective tissue disease (CTD) features significant morbidity and mortality. Standard therapies with endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have shown some clinical improvement in patients, but these clinical improvements have proved modest when compared with other types of PAH. As our case below suggests, rituximab may show promise as a… [Read More]
According to a large cohort study of pediatric patients, rituximab use is on the rise in the treatment of children diagnosed with vasculitis. Treatment with cyclophosphamide remains common, but it’s beginning to wane. Dialysis and mechanical ventilation also remain common, the study indicates. The retrospective study of hospitalized children in the U.S. included the largest… [Read More]
Although rituximab is not indicated for adults with SLE, a recent review suggests that it may be safe and effective for treating pediatric SLE. The review found that rituximab improved renal function and reduced proteinuria in pediatric patients. It may also prevent relapse and improve disease activity…... [Read More]