Rituximab for treatment-resistant extensive Wegener's granulomatosis--additive effects of a maintenance treatment with leflunomide

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology Vol. 26; no. 10; pp. 1711 - 1715
• Main Authors: Henes, J C, Fritz, J, Koch, S, Klein, R, Horger, M, Risler, T, Kanz, L, Koetter, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Clinical trials; Disease-Free Survival; Drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - drug therapy; Humans; Isoxazoles - therapeutic use; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography, Thoracic - methods; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Rituximab; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-007-0643-9

Extensive Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is treated by glucocorticosteroids (GC) and cyclophosphamide (CYC). In some cases, the disease is refractory to CYC. For those patients the depletion of B-lymphocytes with rituximab is a promising new treatment modality. This is a retrospective study of six patients receiving rituximab (RTX) with 4 x 375 mg/m(2) body surface weekly because of inefficacy of CYC. Proteinase-3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (PR3-ANCA) and c-ANCAs were assessed. For clinical follow-up the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for WG (BVAS/WG) was used. In five of the six cases, leflunomide (LEF) was given as maintenance treatment. Mean follow up was 16 months (12-21 months). The median PR3-ANCA titer fell from 36.8 U/ml at baseline to 21.4 U/ml after 3 months, 8.3 after 6 months, and 4.3 at month 12. The median BVAS/WG at baseline was 5 and 0 after 1 month. Two minor relapses could be noticed at month 3. After 6 months, one patient still had a BVAS of 1, all the others had a BVAS of 0. At month 18, a major relapse occurred in one patient, which was successfully retreated with RTX. The RTX infusions were well tolerated. Rituximab is a well-tolerated, very effective medication for patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Leflunomide maintenance may increase the efficacy of rituximab and prolong the disease-free period.