Drug-Drug Interactions, Adverse Reactions & Contraindications
Rituximab can cause renal toxicity with cisplatin. Toxicity associated
with patients of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are more susceptible. It can
cause fatal toxicity if patients experiencing tumor lysis syndrome are
administered Rituximab concomitantly with Cisplatin. They can show signs
of renal failure with rising serum creatinine level or oliguria.
Rituximab with Cisplatin is not approved concomitantly. Rituximab can
cause lymphoid malignancy leading to infusion reactions, fever,
lymphopenia, infection, asthenia - physical weakness and lack of energy,
neutropenia, etc. As per U.S FDA, it doesn’t have any contraindications
but it can cause common adverse reactions like upper respiratory
infection, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, urinary tract infection, etc. in
patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, it can cause muscle spasm,
peripheral edema, diarrhea, nausea, etc. in patients suffering with
microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Wegener’s granulomatosis or
granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) [29, 33-34].