Outcome of rituximab treatment in Japanese patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in daily clinical practice: A two-centre study in Fukushima, Japan

Objectives Rituximab (RTX) efficacy for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has been reported in large randomized studies; however, the efficacy of RTX in Japanese AAV patients, especially the elderly, is not well known. We aimed to determine the clinical efficacy of RTX in Japanese AAV patients including elderly patients. Methods This study included 78 AAV patients newly diagnosed with AAV and treated in Fukushima Medical University Hospital or Ohta-Nishinouchi Hospital from April 2004 to September 2019. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed, and clinical efficacy and outcome (1-year survival) between the RTX treatment group (23 cases) and the conventional therapy group (immunosuppressive therapy other than RTX, 55 cases) were compared. We also analysed the clinical efficacy and outcome in elderly-onset (>75 years) AAV patients. Results The RTX group showed similar efficacy and 1-year survival compared to the conventional therapy group. Conversely, after 6 months of treatment, prednisolone doses significantly decreased in the RTX group compared to the conventional therapy group (p < 0.01). In the elderly-onset AAV patients, clinical efficacy and outcome were not significantly different. Conclusions RTX was effective in Japanese AAV patients and may be useful for prompt tapering of prednisolone doses, even in elderly-onset AAV patients.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Rituximab in Japanese AAV patients, especially the elderly. The results showed that Rituximab was effective in Japanese AAV patients and may be helpful in reducing the use of steroids in elderly-onset patients.