Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab Treatment in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitides: Results from a German Registry (GRAID)

Objective. Rituximab (RTX) therapy is a treatment option in patients with refractory antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We investigated the tolerability and clinical efficacy of RTX in a cohort of patients with refractory AAV. Methods. Clinical and safety data of patients with AAV treated with RTX were retrospectively assessed from the data of a German national registry. Results. In total, 58 patients were included in this analysis (50/58 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis; 8/58 with microscopic polyangiitis who received at least I cycle, 17 patients who received 2 cycles, and 3 patients who received 3 cycles of RTX). Response was classified as complete and partial in 22 (40%) and in 29 cases (52.7%), respectively. Four patients (7.3%) were classified as nonresponders. Conclusion. RTX was well tolerated with good clinical efficacy in patients with refractory AAV. (First Release Sept 15 2012; J Rheumatol 2012;39:2153-6; doi:10.3899/jrheum.120482)