Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Holle, Julia U
• Dubrau, Christin
• Herlyn, Karen
• Heller, Martin
• Ambrosch, Petra
• Noelle, Bernhard
• Reinhold-Keller, Eva
• Gross, Wolfgang L

Titel

Rituximab for refractory granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis): comparison of efficacy in granulomatous versus vasculitic manifestations

Ist Teil von

• Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 2012-03, Vol.71 (3), p.327-333

Ort / Verlag

London: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

BMJ Journals Archiv - DFG Nationallizenzen

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective First, to investigate the overall efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in refractory granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in a tertiary referral centre. Second, to compare the efficacy of RTX in granulomatous and vasculitic manifestations in GPA. Patients and methods This study comprised a retrospective, standardised data collection from all patients who received RTX for refractory Wegener's granulomatosis from 2002 to 2010. Patients were assessed by a standardised interdisciplinary diagnostic procedure (including ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology assessment, MRI, immunodiagnostics, B-cell levels and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score) and were treated by standardised therapeutic regimens according to available evidence. Results 59 patients received 75 cycles of RTX. 9.3% achieved complete remission. A response was documented in 61.3% (improvement in 52%, unchanged disease activity in 9.3%), 26.7% had refractory disease. Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, disease extent index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and prednisolone demand decreased significantly. All patients achieved B-cell depletion. Granulomatous manifestations such as orbital granuloma and pachymeningitis were more frequently refractory to RTX than vasculitis or other granulomatous manifestations. Thus, for example, complete remission/improvement was found in 89.2% of patients with renal disease and in only 44.4% of those with orbital masses (p=0.003). The relapse rate was 44.4% after a median period of 13.5 months. Adverse events occurred in 29%, pneumonia in 15% and death in 3%. Conclusion The overall response rate of refractory GPA to RTX was high (61.3% complete remission or improvement). Response rates of vasculitic manifestations were excellent; failure of response/progress was mostly due to granulomatous manifestations, especially orbital masses. Relapse rates were high (40%) despite maintenance treatment.