Severe pulmonary complications after initial treatment with Rituximab for the Asian-variant of intravascular lymphoma.

Rituximab improves response to treatment and outcome for patients with CD20+ B-cell lymphoma. Herein, however, we report the occurrence of severe pulmonary complications shortly after rituximab infusion in three patients with the newly diagnosed Asian variant of intravascular lymphoma. It is suggested that patients with this subtype of lymphoma are monitored carefully for possible drug reactions during the use of rituximab.