Rituximab for the Primary Treatment of Denovo Extensive Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Rituximab is an attractive agent to bring to the upfront treatment of chronic
graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) due to its favorable toxicity profile, its proven efficacy
in the treatment of steroid-refractory cGVHD, and its ability to serve as a steroid sparing
agent in other autoimmune diseases. The investigators hope to demonstrate that Rituximab has
significant activity in cGVHD when utilized early in the course of the process. In addition,
the investigators hope to show that the early use of Rituximab may allow for the earlier
discontinuation of immunosuppression while obviating the need for long courses of systemic
corticosteroids, which should translate into reduced treatment-related morbidity and
mortality associated with cGVHD.