Indian dermatology online journal
September 7, 2026 · via Europe PMC
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Use of Rituximab in Pemphigus among Indian Dermatologists: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Survey.
De D, Baskaran N, Mahajan R, +16 more, Handa S.
AI summary — for doctors, generated from the abstract only
Indian dermatologists mostly favour rituximab as first-line adjuvant for pemphigus vulgaris, but dosing, PJP prophylaxis and retreatment practices vary widely.
What was studied
Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 55 Indian dermatologists (mean 13 years' experience) in 2024.
Key findings
- 78.2% preferred rituximab as first-line adjuvant for PV
- 69.1% preferred the RA protocol for moderate-severe disease; 14.5% strongly supported low dose
- 80% screened for latent TB; only 12.7% always prescribed PJP prophylaxis
- 61.8% retreated on clinical relapse
Clinical relevance
This suggests a need for standardised rituximab protocols, particularly around infection prophylaxis, though the small sample may not be representative.
Who should care
Limitations
Small, possibly unrepresentative sample.
Rituximab use in pemphigus is popular but inconsistent, especially for prophylaxis.
This is an AI-generated summary of the published abstract, not a clinical recommendation. It may not reflect the full text or subsequent updates — verify against the original source before acting on it.
Abstract
Background
Rituximab has changed the paradigm for management of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Despite its widespread use, variability exists in its use, particularly related to dosing protocols, prophylaxis, and use in special populations. This study aimed to assess dermatologists' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding rituximab in India.
Materials and methods
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Indian dermatologists with at least six months of clinical experience post-residency between March and June 2024. An 85-question survey was used to gather information on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to rituximab. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data and identify practice variations.
Results
Fifty-five dermatologists with a mean practice experience of 13 years participated. Most (78.2%) preferred rituximab as first-line adjuvant for PV, citing higher remission rates and fewer long-term adverse effects. Knowledge of rituximab's mechanism of action was excellent. However, significant practice variability was observed. The standard dose rheumatoid arthritis protocol for moderate-to-severe disease was preferred by 69.1%, whereas only 14.5% strongly supported low-dose regimens. Screening for latent tuberculosis was commonly performed (80%). Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and vaccination practices were inconsistent, with only 12.7% always prescribing prophylaxis. Additionally, 61.8% used rituximab retreatment on clinical relapse, with less emphasis on immunological markers for monitoring.
Limitations
The responses may not be representative of all dermatologists, especially those with less experience with rituximab.
Conclusion
While dermatologists demonstrated strong knowledge of rituximab, significant variability in dosing, prophylaxis, and retreatment practices exists. Standardized guidelines and educational initiatives may be needed to ensure consistent use of rituximab and improve patient outcomes.
DOI
10.4103/idoj.idoj_631_25
PMID
42708833
Research metadata (titles, abstracts, authors, publication dates) is sourced from Europe PMC, which aggregates content from PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other providers under the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM/NCBI). NLM does not claim copyright on abstracts; the original journal publishers or authors may hold rights to the full articles. AI-generated summaries are derived only from the abstract, never the full text, and are always labeled as AI-generated.
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