title: Response of Wegener's granulomatosis to anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody therapy.
abstract: We report on the successful, compassionate use of the anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab in a patient with chronic, relapsing cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA)-associated Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). The patient initially responded to treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. However, bone marrow toxicity during cyclophosphamide treatment of a relapse precluded its further use. Azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil treatment had failed to maintain remission of the WG, and methotrexate was contraindicated. Because the patient's 5-year course was characterized by close correlation of cANCA levels with disease activity, selective elimination of cANCA was deemed a treatment option for his latest relapse. He was given 4 infusions of 375 mg/M2 of rituximab and high-dose glucocorticoids. Complete remission was associated with the disappearance of B lymphocytes and cANCA. Glucocorticoid treatment was then discontinued. After 11 months, the cANCA recurred, and rituximab therapy was repeated, without glucocorticoids. At 8 months after the second course of rituximab (18 months after the first course), the patient's WG has remained in complete remission. Elimination of B cells by rituximab therapy may prove to be an effective and safe new treatment modality for ANCA-associated vasculitis and possibly other autoimmune diseases. This modality warrants closer examination in a carefully conducted clinical trial.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. specks.ulrich@mayo.edu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Specks
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Fervenza
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000069283:Rituximab