Successful experience of rituximab therapy for systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease with concomitant systemic lupus erythematosus

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.