Successful treatment of cardiac involvement in dermatomyositis with rituximab.
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are autoimmune inflammatory myopathies characterized by muscle weakness and inflammation. Current recommended therapy includes corticosteroids as mainstay treatment in addition to immunosuppressant. We present herein a 25year-old female with dermatomyositis and cardiac involvement resistant to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha. She was treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab. The patient demonstrated a remarkable clinical and laboratory response. B-cell depletion therapy with rituximab may be a viable option in patients with dermatomyositis and heart disease.
Touma
Zahi
Z
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, PO Box 11-0236 Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
Arayssi
Thurayya
T
Kibbi
Lina
L
Masri
Abdel Fattah
AF
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069283:Rituximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab