title: Rituximab-induced regression of CREST-related calcinosis.
abstract: About a quarter of sclerodermic patients present calcinosis. However, patients with limited form of the disease are more likely to have calcinosis than patients with diffuse form. We report a case of a 54-year-old female patient with limited cutaneous scleroderma using rituximab (RTX) to treat lung fibrosis and arthritis. Into RTX treatment, she also had a complete resolution of calcinosis in her hands. The patient reported improvement in dyspnea and synovitis after two courses of RTX (four weekly infusions 375 mg/m(2) each). After 7 months of the first infusion, the calcinosis in her fingers had a complete remission, especially the right thumb. Based on current evidences, we discuss the use of rituximab as a promising therapy to treat not only lung disease but also calcinosis in patients with scleroderma.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dayane Raquel
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Fabiane Barbero
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Klem
authors.forename: Pedro Gabriel
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lorencetti
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Valderilio Feijó
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D045745:Scleroderma, Limited / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab