title: Treatment of primary CNS vasculitis with rituximab: case report.
abstract: Primary CNS vasculitis (PCNSV) is an uncommon disorder of unknown cause that is restricted to brain and spinal cord. Glucocorticoids alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide achieve a favorable response in most patients.(1,2) However, some patients are intolerant or respond poorly to cyclophosphamide; therefore, there is the need for new treatment options. We report a patient with PCNSV who appeared to respond to treatment with corticosteroids and rituximab. This study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board and written informed patient consent to perform the study was obtained.
authors.affiliation: From Unità Operativa di Reumatologia (C.S.), Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico; IRCSS-Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova (C.S.), Reggio Emilia, Italy; and Mayo Clinic (R.D.B., J.H., J.M.M., G.G.H.), Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huston
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Gene G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Hunder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000069283:Rituximab