Long-term maintenance therapy using rituximab-induced continuous B-cell depletion in patients with ANCA vasculitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Remission in the majority of ANCA vasculitis patients is not sustained after a single course of rituximab, and risk of relapse warrants development of a successful strategy to ensure durable remission.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

A retrospective analysis of ANCA vasculitis patients who underwent maintenance therapy using rituximab-induced continuous B-cell depletion for up to 7 years was performed. Maintenance therapy with rituximab was initiated after achieving remission or converting from other prior maintenance therapy. Continuous B-cell depletion was achieved in all patients by scheduled rituximab administration every 4 months. Disease activity, serologic parameters, adverse events, and survival were examined.

Results

In

SUBMITTER: Pendergraft WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3974359 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature