International Journal of Rheumatology · 2010 · 32 citations · 8 references
Life SciencesImmunologyInternal MedicineAutoimmunityMonoclonal AntibodiesRheumatologyAutoantibodiesAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmune Rheumatic DiseasesAutoimmune VasculitisB-cell ResponsesSystemic Autoimmune DiseaseAnti-cd20 Antibody TherapyAnti-cd20 TherapyAnti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic AntibodiesAntineutrophil AntibodiesAntineutrophil Cytoplasmic AntibodiesAutoantibodies In Rheumatic DiseaseImmune Cell DepletionSystemic Vasculitis
Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic vasculitis typically associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs). A small proportion of patients are ANCA negative, however, and this is more commonly found in individuals with disease limited to the ears, nose, throat, and lungs, who do not have renal involvement. Rituximab is a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody that has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of autoantibody-associated rheumatic diseases, including systemic WG. We report the case of a patient with ANCA-negative WG who responded well to rituximab, illustrating that even in the absence of detectable autoantibodies, B-cell depletion can be effective.
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