Mignard C, Maho-Vaillant M, Golinski ML, et al. - Researchers undertook this post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial (Comparison Between Rituximab Treatment and Oral Corticosteroid Treatment in Patients With Pemphigus [RITUX 3]), to determine the factors related to short-term relapse among patients with pemphigus managed with rituximab. This study involved 47 patients, including 17 male and 30 female. Experts found higher mean (SD) baseline Pemphigus Disease Area Index [PDAI] score for patients with relapsing disease vs those with nonrelapsing disease. For relapse occurrence post-rituximab, a positive predictive and negative predictive value of 50% and 94%, respectively, was afforded by a PDAI score of 45 or higher defining severe pemphigus and/or persistent anti-desmoglein (DSG)1 antibody values of 20 IU/mL or higher and/or anti-DSG3 antibody values of 130 IU/mL or higher at month 3. According to the findings, a subgroup of patients at high risk of relapse who might benefit from maintenance rituximab infusion at month 6 might be distinguished from a subgroup of patients at low risk of relapse who do not require early maintenance therapy by taking into account initial PDAI score as well as the alterations in anti-DSG antibody values following the initial cycle of rituximab.