title: Life-threatening hepatitis C virus-associated polyarteritis nodosa successfully treated by rituximab.
abstract: By contrast to cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rare and still a controversial entity. The best treatment for this condition is not established. Cases reported in the literature have been treated with various combinations of corticosteroids, antiviral therapy, and immunosuppressants. We report a case of severe life-threatening HCV-associated polyarteritis nodosa successfully treated with rituximab and a short course of corticosteroids without antiviral therapy. This case, along with recently published data, emphasizes the value of B-cell-targeted therapy in this unusual form of HCV-associated vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France. antoine.neel@univ-nantes.fr
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Néel
authors.forename: Agathe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masseau
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hervier
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bossard
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cacoub
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagnoux
authors.forename: Mohamed Amine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hamidou
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab