title: Efficacy of low-dose rituximab for mixed cryoglobulinemia.
abstract: Rituximab at 375 mg/m(2) x 4 is effective for refractory HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia. We conducted a pilot study to assess the efficacy of a lower dosage, 250 mg/m(2) x 2. Six consecutive patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia were treated. All patients had severe or life-threatening disease manifestations, including necrotizing skin ulcers, renal disease, hyperviscosity or intestinal vasculitis. Four of five evaluable patients (excluding one early death) had >80% decrease of cryocrit and remission of vasculitis at the end of a 22- to 55-week (median 40) follow-up. The non-responder failed to respond to additional rituximab treatment, suggesting intrinsic resistance rather than insufficient dosage as the cause of treatment failure. No sustained increase of HCV viremia after rituximab was observed. Rituximab at 250 mg/m(2) x 2 may be as effective as at 375 mg/m(2) x 4 for treating mixed cryoglobulinemia. Larger studies are required to assess the efficacy of low-dose rituximab.
authors: Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marcella
authors: M
authors: Visentini
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Granata
authors: Maria Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Veneziano
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Borghese
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Carlesimo
authors: Fulvia
authors: F
authors: Pimpinelli
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Fiorilli
authors: Milvia
authors: M
authors: Casato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000069283:Rituximab; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab