title: Successful treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome) with rituximab in a case refractory to glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and IVIG.
abstract: A 44-year old woman with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) developed sequential paralysis of different cranial nerves despite treatments including methylpredonisolone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), and cyclophosphamide. Infusions of rituximab ameliorated her neurological symptoms and serological inflammatory findings. Rituximab, a specific B cell-targeting therapy, might offer an alternative for refractory EGPA with possible advantages of cost and ease of use compared to IVIG, which also targets (at least in part) B lymphocytes and immunoglobulin production.
authors: Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University , Tokyo , Japan.
authors: Natsuka
authors: N
authors: Umezawa
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Kohsaka
authors: Toshihiro
authors: T
authors: Nanki
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Watanabe
authors: Michi
authors: M
authors: Tanaka
authors: Peter Y
authors: PY
authors: Shane
authors: Nobuyuki
authors: N
authors: Miyasaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; IVIG; Rituximab