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Efficacy of Rituximab in a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient Presenting with Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although infrequent, its mortality is very high. While there are no established therapeutic guidelines, DAH has been traditionally managed with high-dose intravenous (IV) corticosteroids, cycl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Montes-Rivera, Gabriela, Ríos, Grissel, Vilá, Luis M.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Hindawi 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5705898/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29259835
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/6031053
Descripción
Sumario:Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although infrequent, its mortality is very high. While there are no established therapeutic guidelines, DAH has been traditionally managed with high-dose intravenous (IV) corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange. The efficacy of alternative therapies such as rituximab has been described only in a few cases. Herein, we report a 25-year-old Hispanic man who presented with acute-onset SLE manifested by polyarthralgia, nephritis, seizures, pancytopenia, severe hypocomplementemia, and elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies. His disease course was complicated by DAH. His condition was refractory to high-dose intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone pulses, IV cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis. Given the lack of clinical response, he was started on IV rituximab 375 mg/m(2) weekly for a total of four courses. He rapidly improved after the first two doses. Over the next seven months, he did not present recurrent pulmonary symptoms. Follow-up chest computed tomography did not show residual abnormalities. This case, together with other reports, suggests that rituximab is an effective therapeutic option for DAH in SLE.