The use of monoclonal antibody (rituximab) in the treatment of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia.
Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody has been successfully used to treat several self-immune diseases. The authors report the case of a 71 year-old female patient under the use of pegylated form of interferon á associated with ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C, who, after concluding the therapeutic program - negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - developed a severe cutaneous vasculitis, receiving the diagnostic of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia. Four sessions of plasmapheresis were prescribed along the period of 11 days, with no result. The choice made was to administer anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab), 375 mg/m(2), per week, during four consecutive weeks. One could observe fast recovery from the purpura, as well as total remission of urticaria.
Rego
Thiago Carlos Gonçalves
TC
Oncology Departament, Sírio Libanês Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. regothiago@yahoo.com.br
Massumoto
Celso Mitsushi
CM
Batista
Rodrigo Siqueira
RS
Moura
Larissa Hanauer de
LH
Soares
Lygia Maria Costa
LM
Gomes
Andréia Patrícia
AP
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000069283:Rituximab; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a