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.
Hermle
T
T
Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, UCL, London, United Kingdom. tobias.hermle@gmail.com
Goestemeyer
A-K
AK
Sweny
P
P
Burns
A
A
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