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Successful experience of rituximab therapy for systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease with concomitant systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Sumida Hayakazu,
Asano Yoshihide,
Tamaki Zenshiro,
Aozasa Naohiko,
Taniguchi Takashi,
Takahashi Takehiro,
Toyama Tetsuo,
Ichimura Yohei,
Noda Shinji,
Akamata Kaname,
Miyazaki Miki,
Kuwano Yoshihiro,
Yanaba Koichi,
Sato Shinichi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.12461
Subject(s) - medicine , rituximab , interstitial lung disease , concomitant , systemic disease , immunology , rheumatology , disease , cd20 , autoimmune disease , antibody , lung
Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that B cells play critical roles in autoimmune disorders including systemic sclerosis ( SS c) and systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ). However, the effectiveness of rituximab ( RTX ), a chimeric anti‐ CD 20 antibody, for SS c‐associated interstitial lung disease ( ILD ) or SLE disease activity remains controversial. We herein report an SS c patient with severely progressed ILD and concomitant SLE treated by two cycles of RTX at baseline and half a year later. This treatment improved ILD and SLE activities, along with reduction of dermal sclerosis and serum anti‐topoisomerase I antibody levels. In addition, our detailed time‐course data indicate that half a year may be appropriate as an interval between each cycle of RTX therapy aimed at SS c‐associated ILD or SLE . Overall, the current report could pave the way to establish RTX as a disease‐modifying drug for patients with SS c and/or SLE showing resistance to other already approved medications.