AB0998 Effects of Rituximab Therapy in 9 Children with Refractory Autoimmune Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and ANCA Positive Vasculitis) – Single Centre Expirience
Authors: M. Frković, I. Malčić, D. Batinić, D. Milošević, M. Jelušić
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> There are only few reports of rituximab (RTX) effects in children with autoimmune diseases refractory to conventional therapy protocols. <h3>Objectives</h3> Authors present their work on the effects of RTX therapy in chidren with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) + lupus nephritis (LN) and ANCA positive vasulitis, refractory to standard therapy. <h3>Methods</h3> Retrospective chart rewiev of all patients treated with RTX at the Departement of Paediatrics, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, during the period 2009–2014. <h3>Results</h3> Nine children were treated with RTX: 6 with SLE + LN (3 boys, 3 girls) and 3 with ANCA positive vasulitis (3 girls). Median age of patients at the disease onset was 11.6 years (5 – 15 years). Conventional therapy included methylprednisolon, cyclophosphamide (CYC), mycophenolate mofetil, azathyoprine, in some cases plasmapheresis. In all cases RTX was introduced due to ineffectivness of conventional therapy in achiving the remission of autoimune disease. Median time between the beginnig of conventional therapy and introduction of RTX was 10.3 months (1 – 48 months). In 8 cases RTX (750 mg/m<sup>2</sup>, two doses, two weeks apart) was combined with mini pulses of CYC (350 mg/m<sup>2</sup>), in 1 case RTX was applied in dose of 375 mg/m<sup>2</sup> per week, for 4 weeks. After RTX introduction complete, prolonged remission was achived in 6 children. In 2 patients relapses of disease required repeating of RTX therapy. One patient (girl (5 yrs) with ANCA possitive vasculitis) died due to initially severe presentation at disease onset and fulminant, progressive multiorgan failure despite all conventional therapy and early introduction of RTX. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Complete or partial remission after RTX introduction was achived in 8/9 (88,8%) of our patients with severe autoimmune diseases. To our expirience, RTX represents powerful tool in controlling SLE + LN and ANCA positive vasculitis refractory to conventional therapy protocols. <h3>References</h3> Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Yonatan Butbul-Aviel, Ludmila Guralnik et.al. Rituximab: rescue therapy in life-threatening complications of refractory autoimmmune diseases: a single centre expirience. Rheumatol Int (2013) 33:1495-1504. RJ Davies, SR Sangle, NP Jordan et.al. Rituximab in the treatment of resistant lupus nephritis: therapy failure in rapidly progressive crescent lupus nephritis. Lupus (2013) 22, 574-582. D Duxbury, C. Combescure, C Chizzolini. Rituximab in systemic lupus erythematosus: an updated systemic review and meta-analysis. Lupus (2013) 22, 1489-1503. Marc Weidenbusch, Christoph Rommele, Angelika Schrottle, Hnas-Joachim Anders. Beyond the LUNAR trial. Efficacy of rituximab in refractory lupus nephritis. Nephrol Dial Transplant (2013) 28: 106-111. Maria Trachana, Artemis Koutsonikoli et.al. Safety and efficacy of Rituximab in refractory pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis: a single centre expirience of Northern Greece. Rheumatol Int (2013) 33:809-813. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared