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02-03-2017 | ANCA-associated vasculitis | Review | Article

Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Journal: Current Rheumatology Reports

Authors: Romina I. Hassan, Angelo L. Gaffo

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to describe the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) as a remission induction and maintenance therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Recent Findings

A PubMed search was carried out to track down articles published between February 2006 and February 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that encompassed patients with AAV were included. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2014–2015 online abstracts were also reviewed whether they were RTCs or not. Ten PubMed RCTs were analyzed along with eight ACR and four EULAR abstracts. RTX was not inferior to cyclophosphamide (CYC) for remission induction in AAV; it was superior to CYC in patients with relapsing disease and superior for remission maintenance in comparison with azathioprine (AZA).

Summary

Rituximab is a therapeutic option to induce and maintain remission in patients with AAV.

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Medicine Matters Rheumatology

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recent Findings

Summary