Successful therapeutic use of rituximab in refractory Wegener's granulomatosis after renal transplantation.
Wegener's granulomatosis is a significant cause of end-stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy. Treatment of relapses is often difficult as immunosuppressive therapy can be limited by various factors including graft survival in renal transplantation. Rituximab is a novel therapeutic approach in those conditions. We present the case of a 42 year-old Caucasian woman who had been diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis 15 years ago. Predominantly affected organs were kidneys and pituitary gland. Five years later she reached end-stage renal failure and received a renal transplant soon after. She suffered from continuous relapses involving pulmonary hemorrhage and treatment became increasingly difficult. Symptoms resolved soon after single administration of low dose rituximab.
Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, UCL, London, United Kingdom. tobias.hermle@gmail.com
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D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000378:metabolism; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D012008:Recurrence; D000069283:Rituximab; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000069283:Rituximab