title: Successful treatment of cardiac involvement in dermatomyositis with rituximab.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, PO Box 11-0236 Riad El-Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Zahi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Touma
authors.forename: Thurayya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arayssi
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kibbi
authors.forename: Abdel Fattah
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Masri
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab