Case report demonstrates Rituximab improves anemia and stabilizes kidney function in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, suggesting it as a frontline treatment.
Key Points
This case report aims to explore the effects of Rituximab on refractory anemia in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Descriptive case report of a 56-year-old female patient.
Initial treatments included Cyclophosphamide, glucocorticoids, Erythropoietin, and blood transfusions.
Rituximab was administered as 500 mg infusions every two weeks for four doses.
Hemoglobin (Hb) levels increased from 56 g/l to 127 g/l after Rituximab treatment.
MPO-ANCA titers decreased from 1:1280 to 1:80.
Lung infiltrates improved, but kidney function remained impaired due to irreversible fibrosis.