Rituximab targets CD20+ B cells and has been used increasingly for the treatment of B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, alone or in combination with cytotoxic agents. Rituximab can kill CD20+cells by multiple mechanisms. Rituximab therapy has often been associated with an infusion-related symptom complex consisting of fever, chills, and rigors that is usually self-limited. These complications are transient without long-term effects. Several delayed pulmonary events involving interstitial reactions and bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia have recently been described in conjunction with the use of Rituximab. In the lymphoma patient presented here there was no respiratory symptoms; however, respiratory difficulty developed after the third round of Rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and positive emission tomography (PET) were performed and revealed diffuse ground glass opacities. We report a patient with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in whom interstitial lung disease developed after Rituximab therapy.
B-Lymphocytes ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Chills ; Cytotoxins ; Drug Therapy ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Pneumonia ; Rituximab