Published in:
01-02-2013 | Case Based Review
Rituximab-induced regression of CREST-related calcinosis
Authors:
Dayane Raquel de Paula, Fabiane Barbero Klem, Pedro Gabriel Lorencetti, Carolina Muller, Valderilio Feijó Azevedo
Published in:
Clinical Rheumatology
|
Issue 2/2013
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Abstract
About a quarter of sclerodermic patients present calcinosis. However, patients with limited form of the disease are more likely to have calcinosis than patients with diffuse form. We report a case of a 54-year-old female patient with limited cutaneous scleroderma using rituximab (RTX) to treat lung fibrosis and arthritis. Into RTX treatment, she also had a complete resolution of calcinosis in her hands. The patient reported improvement in dyspnea and synovitis after two courses of RTX (four weekly infusions 375 mg/m2 each). After 7 months of the first infusion, the calcinosis in her fingers had a complete remission, especially the right thumb. Based on current evidences, we discuss the use of rituximab as a promising therapy to treat not only lung disease but also calcinosis in patients with scleroderma.