title: Rituximab in the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The general consensus is that for patients with EGPA with poor prognosis, intensive therapy with both GC and CF is indicated. The maintenance of remission is made with GC and AZA. A considerable number of patients with EGPA are refractory to first line therapy, experience dose-limiting side effects or relapse. In clinical trials, RTX was effective for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis. However, patients with a diagnosis of EGPA were not included.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to review and analyze the published literature regarding the use of RTX in the treatment of EGPA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search was performed in MEDLINE and LILACS from 1965 and 1986 respectively until february 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  27 patients were included. RTX treatment was due to refractory disease (n=20), relapse (n=5) and with newly diagnosed (n=2). The affected organs were the lungs, peripheral nervous system, kidney and the eyes. Sixteen patients had clinical remission and 8 patients had clinical response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RTX was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of EGPA.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Clínica Médica División «A», Hospital General de Agudos Juan A. Fernández, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: sebastianamunoz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sebastián Andrés
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Clínica Médica División «A», Hospital General de Agudos Juan A. Fernández, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ignacio Javier
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Gandino
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Aeronáutico Central, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alberto Omar
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Orden
authors.affiliation: Exjefe del Servicio de Clínica Médica División «A», Hospital General de Agudos Juan A. Fernández, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allievi
mesh_terms: D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis; Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; Granulomatosis eosinofilica con poliangitis; Rituximab; Vasculitis asociadas a anticuerpos anticitoplasma de neutrófilo