Treatment of relapsing polychondritis with rituximab: a retrospective study of nine patients.
OBJECTIVE
Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen expressed by B cells, is now considered an effective second-line therapy in various systemic diseases. We describe here the effects of rituximab in patients with relapsing polychondritis.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 9 patients with relapsing polychondritis who received different regimens of rituximab in addition to their ongoing therapies. Clinical, laboratory, physiologic, and radiologic indicators were used to assess disease activity. We also examined their corticosteroid doses and any change in immunosuppressive agents. We then compared disease activity in the 6 months preceding rituximab administration and at 6 and 12 months after.


RESULTS
At 6 months, 2 patients showed partial improvement, 4 were stable, and 3 had worsened disease; however, no patient had complete remission. At 12 months (after exclusion of the 3 patients whose disease had worsened at 6 months), 2 patients remained stable and 4 had worsened disease; however, there were no partial or complete remissions. B cells were counted in 8 patients during the first 6 months after treatment, and B cell depletion was observed in all of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we cannot rule out the possibility that rituximab had a small effect, our patients' clinical courses did not improve significantly with this treatment.
Leroux
Gaëlle
G
Université Paris 6, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre de Référence National Pour le Lupus Systémique et le Syndrome des Antiphospholipides, Paris Cedex 13, France.
Costedoat-Chalumeau
Nathalie
N
Brihaye
Benoît
B
Cohen-Bittan
Judith
J
Amoura
Zahir
Z
Haroche
Julien
J
Limal
Nicolas
N
Bletry
Olivier
O
Piette
Jean-Charles
JC
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab