title: Rituximab for successful management of probable pediatric catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by small-vessel thrombi and a rapid onset of multiorgan system failure associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Current treatment options include anticoagulants, corticosteroids, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin, but these are not always effective. Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, may help eliminate autoreactive B cells and thus limit the rapid inflammatory process involved in CAPS. We describe the use of rituximab in the successful initial management of a probable case of pediatric CAPS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Amulya A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nageswara Rao
authors.forename: Grace M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gloor
authors.forename: Vilmarie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002388:Catastrophic Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069283:Rituximab; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab