Rituximab in the treatment of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy: a review of case reports and case series

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is a group of immune-related myopathies characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness, extremely high serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, and necrotic muscle fibers with a relative lack of inflammation. Treatment of IMNM is challenging, with most cases refractory to high-dose steroids in combination with multiple immunotherapies. The role of rituximab (RTX) for IMNM has been explored in isolated case reports and small series. The aim of this article was to perform a literature review of patients with IMNM treated with RTX and to evaluate RTX efficacy and safety. A total of 34 patients with IMNM were reviewed: 52.9% (18/34) with anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) antibodies and 47.1% (16/34) with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) antibodies. Patient age at onset varied from 11 years to 81 years (mean 41 years). The majority of patients presented as a severe proximal muscle weakness and the peak level of CK varied from 3900 IU/L to 56,000 IU/L (mean 18,440 IU/L). Prior to RTX administration, all patients were treated with high-dose steroids and most were treated with multiple immunotherapies. The reason for initiating RTX was that 64.7% (22/34) of patients showed no improvement after previous treatments, and 35.3% (12/34) of patients relapsed when attempting to wean steroids or other immunosuppressive agents. With regard to RTX efficacy, 61.8% (21/34) of patients presented a response to RTX. Our data may support the use of RTX as an effective treatment strategy against IMNM resistant to steroids and multiple immunotherapies. Meanwhile, RTX as a first-line therapy could be a choice in IMNM, particularly in African Americans with anti-SRP antibody-positive subsets. ANA, antinuclear antibody; CK, creatine kinase; HMGCR, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase; IMNM, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; MAC, membrane attack complex; MHC-I, major histocompatibility complex-I; RTX, rituximab; SRP, signal recognition particle.