Rituxan (Rituximab) for Thyroid Eye Disease

Overview
Rituxan is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for thyroid eye disease. However, it’s commonly prescribed off-label for this condition when other treatments have failed or aren’t suitable. Rituxan is also known by its drug name, rituximab.

Rituxan is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody that targets and destroys B cells, a type of white blood cell. In the case of thyroid eye disease, the B cells are part of the immune response that leads to inflammation and tissue damage in the orbit of the eye (the bony cavity in the skull that contains the eye). Rituxan works by reducing the number of B cells, which may help make the autoimmune attack on eye tissues less severe.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Rituxan is administered as an IV infusion, typically given in cycles. Premedication with a steroid like methylprednisolone is common to reduce the risk of infusion reactions. Rituxan must be taken exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
The FDA approved label for Rituxan states that common side effects include infusion reactions, fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, weakness, infections, and lower blood cell counts. 

Rare but serious side effects may include tumor lysis syndrome (when rapid destruction of tumor cells leads to metabolic abnormalities), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a potentially fatal brain infection), severe skin rash and mouth sores, and hepatitis B reactivation. 

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Rituxan — Rituximab Injection — DailyMed