Place in therapy of rituximab in the treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.

ABSTRACT: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis are small vessel vasculitides characterized by circulating antineutrophil circulating antibodies. Standard treatment for active severe disease has consisted of cyclophosphamide with glucocorticoids with or without plasmapheresis, which achieves approximately 75% sustained remission, but carries significant adverse effects such as malignancy, infertility, leukopenia, and infections. The role of B cells in the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil circulating antibodies-associated vasculitis has been established, and as such, rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, has been studied in treatment of active granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis (induction) and in maintaining remission. Rituximab has been shown t

SUBMITTER: Shah S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4918256 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature