{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Rituximab in the treatment of progressive interstitial lung disease associated with the antisynthetase syndrome.
{Author}: Narváez J;Cañadillas E;Castellví I;Alegre JJ;Vincens-Zygmunt V;Bermudo G;Vidal-Montal P;Molina Molina M;Nolla JM;
{Journal}: Arthritis Res Ther
{Volume}: 26
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 Jun 18
{Factor}: 5.606
{DOI}: 10.1186/s13075-024-03353-2
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To assess the real-world, long-term effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) as a rescue therapy in patients with antisynthetase syndrome and progressive interstitial lung disease (ASS-ILD).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Multicentre observational retrospective longitudinal study of a cohort of patients with ASS-ILD that started treatment with RTX due to recurrent or ongoing progressive ILD despite therapy with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Twenty-eight patients were analyzed. Examining the entire study population, before treatment with RTX the mean decline in %pFVC and %pDLCO from the ASS-ILD diagnosis to the initiation of RTX treatment (T0) was -6.44% and -14.85%, respectively. After six months of treatment, RTX reversed the decline in pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters: ∆%pFVC +6.29% (95% CI: -10.07 to 2.51; p=0.002 compared to T0) and ∆%pDLCO +6.15% (95% CI: -10.86 to -1.43; p=0.013). Twenty-four patients completed one year of therapy and 22 two years, maintaining the response in PFT: ∆%pFVC: +9.93% (95% CI: -15.61 to -4.25; p=0.002) and ∆%pDLCO: +7.66% (95% CI: -11.67 to -3.65; p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant reduction in the median dose of prednisone, and it could be suspended in 18% of cases. In 33% of patients who required oxygen therapy at the start of treatment, it could be discontinued. The frequency of adverse events reached 28.5% of cases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Based on our results, RTX appears to be effective as rescue therapy in most patients with recurrent or progressive ASS-ILD unresponsive to conventional treatment. The use of RTX was well tolerated in the majority of patients.