Successful treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; formerly Churg–Strauss syndrome) with rituximab in a case refractory to glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and IVIG

Abstract

A 44-year old woman with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) developed sequential paralysis of different cranial nerves despite treatments including methylpredonisolone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), and cyclophosphamide. Infusions of rituximab ameliorated her neurological symptoms and serological inflammatory findings. Rituximab, a specific B cell-targeting therapy, might offer an alternative for refractory EGPA with possible advantages of cost and ease of use compared to IVIG, which also targets (at least in part) B lymphocytes and immunoglobulin production.