Efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease

Effects of rituximab in connective tissue disorders related interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVES Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a key prognostic factor in connective tissue disorders (CTDs). The aim of our study was to assess the changes in pulmonary functional tests (PFTs) in various CTDs, including anti-synthetase syndrome (SYN), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mixed connective tissue disorder (MCTD), following the use of rituximab therapy. METHODS A multicentre retrospecti...

Interstitial lung disease in connective tissue disorders.

Some of the most pressing challenges associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are how best to define, diagnose, and treat connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD)--disorders with potentially substantial morbidity and mortality. In this focused review, we address aspects of prognosis for CTD-ILD and what indices might predict outcome, together with lessons that can be learnt fro...

Severe interstitial lung disease in connective tissue disease: rituximab as rescue therapy.

In very severe interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-ILD), progressing despite maximal conventional immunosuppression, there is no effective medical rescue therapy. The aim of the present study was to test whether rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that depletes peripheral B lymphocytes, is effective as rescue therapy in very severe CTD-ILD, unresponsive to conv...

Standard Operating Procedure: Clinical Commissioning Policy: Rituximab for connective tissue disease associated with interstitial lung disease

The Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Scleroderma-Interstitial Lung Disease

Introduction: Pulmonary involvement is the most common cause of mortality and disability in patients with systemic sclerosis and it significantly affects the quality of life in these patients. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary involvement seems necessary in patients with SSc. In this study, we aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with Sclero...