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Rituximab for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis: experience of a single center and systematic review of non-randomized studies

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Abstract

Rituximab (RTX) is becoming a standard treatment for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) but heterogeneity exists regarding its use. We present our uncontrolled experience with RTX in patients with refractory AAV and also the results of a systematic review of non-randomized studies on RTX in AAV patients. We retrospectively reviewed the records of AAV patients treated with RTX following an inadequate response to immunosuppressives between 2011 and 2015. The systematic review covered all English articles listed in PubMed until June 2017. There were 25 AAV patients (21 GPA, four unclassified) treated with RTX (median 2, IQR 1–3 courses; median follow-up 24, IQR 17–50 months). The kidney and the lung were the most commonly affected organs, observed in 14 and 16 patients, respectively. Complete remission rate was 72% at month 6 and 88% at month 12. Two patients had died and three serious adverse events occurred. The systematic review included 56 studies on 1422 patients with the majority being on refractory or relapsing disease. There was wide variability regarding disease characteristics, endpoints, concomitant immunosuppressives and RTX schedule. Most studies reported > 80% complete or partial remission rates with the lowest response (37.5%) for granulomatous lesions. The relapse rate was 30%. Infections and infusion reactions were the main adverse events. Our experience with RTX in refractory AAV is in line with the literature in terms of efficacy and safety. The systematic review underlines many uncertainties on its optimal use.

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Acknowledgements

All authors contributed to writing this study and have approved the final version.

Funding

We did not receive any funding support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Gizem Ayan

  2. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sinem Nihal Esatoglu, Gulen Hatemi, Serdal Ugurlu, Emire Seyahi, Melike Melikoglu, Izzet Fresko, Huri Ozdogan, Sebahattin Yurdakul & Vedat Hamuryudan

Authors
  1. Gizem Ayan
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  2. Sinem Nihal Esatoglu
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  3. Gulen Hatemi
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  4. Serdal Ugurlu
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  5. Emire Seyahi
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  6. Melike Melikoglu
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  7. Izzet Fresko
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  8. Huri Ozdogan
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  9. Sebahattin Yurdakul
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  10. Vedat Hamuryudan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vedat Hamuryudan.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The ethics committee of Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty approved the study (174711/2017).

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Ayan, G., Esatoglu, S.N., Hatemi, G. et al. Rituximab for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis: experience of a single center and systematic review of non-randomized studies. Rheumatol Int 38, 607–622 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-018-3928-1

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