Document Detail


Treatment options for refractory Wegener's granulomatosis: a role for rituximab?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17979026     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a small-vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology, involving mainly the upper airways, lungs and kidneys. Organ inflammatory damage is mediated by anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies, and their detection is a component of the diagnostic work-up as well as clinical signs and symptoms, and histopathological biopsy abnormalities. Conventional therapeutic regimens, such as cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids, can be used to induce and maintain disease remission. Alternatively, other cytotoxic agents (eg, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil), anti-TNFalpha agents (eg, infliximab or etanercept) or anti-lymphocyte antibodies (eg, rituximab) can be used. Rituximab, a mAb which targets CD20+ B-cells, is currently used in the treatment non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, and is being investigated for refractory WG therapy and other autoimmune diseases.
Authors:
Sabina A Antoniu
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000)     Volume:  8     ISSN:  1472-4472     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr Opin Investig Drugs     Publication Date:  2007 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-11-05     Completed Date:  2008-01-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100965718     Medline TA:  Curr Opin Investig Drugs     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  927-32     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Gr T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Division of Pulmonary Disease, 30 Dr I Cihac Str, Iasi 700115, Romania. saantoniu@pneumo.umfiasi.ro
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
Drug Therapy / methods*,  trends
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
Humans
Plasmapheresis / methods
Treatment Outcome
Wegener Granulomatosis / immunology,  pathology,  therapy*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antibodies, Monoclonal; 0/rituximab

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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