[Immunologic changes in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas after rituximab-CHOP treatment: own data and review of the literature]. / Immunológiai változások diffúz nagy B-sejtes lymphomában Rituximab-CHOP kezelést követoen: saját adatok elemzése és irodalmi áttekintés.

INTRODUCTION: Rituximab treatment may induce a long-term B-cell depletion, which can be accompanied with an increased infection risk. AIMS: To examine the changes of the white blood cell, CD19+ B-cell and CD4+ T-cell counts and the levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M after rituximab containing chemotherapy and to explore the infectious complications in our patients and review of the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients were examined, who were treated with rituximab-cyclophosphamide-vincristine-doxoribicine-prednisolone (R-CHOP). The B- and T-cell populations were analyzed with flow-cytometry while the immunoglobulin levels were measured by nephelometry. RESULTS: CD19+ B-lymphocytes were undetectable after the treatment and their count only increased from the post-therapeutic 12th month. Infection did not occur in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab induced B-cell depletion was appreciable also in this group of patients, while serious or unexpected infection did not occur. Increased infectious risk primarily can be observed after long-term, maintenance rituximab treatment.