Therapeutic trial of rituximab in the treatment of patients with recalcitrant epidermolysis bullosa acquisita - Rituximab in the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

Two patients with EBA were enrolled in this study and treated with rituximab and low dose steroid. Skin and oral lesions improved quite slowly after 67 weeks in case 1, while oral lesions and the lesions on hands and face showed slight improvement after 37 weeks in case 2. Anti-type VII collagen antibody ELISA index values declined consecutively from 106.3 to 20.0 in case 1 and from 125.4 to 26.5 in case 2, respectively. Although skin fragility still remains in both patients, the rituximab treatment combined with low dose steroid may be a safe, valuable adjuvant treatment regimen for recalcitrant EBA.