EXPERIENCE OF TREATMENT WITH RITUXIMAB IN PATIENT WITH JUVENILE POLYARTERITIS

Abstract

The article presents a case report of severe course of nodular polyarteritis. The disease was highly active, aggressive, and refractory to treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide combined with plasmapheresis and drugs for microcirculation improvement. The treatment with chimerical anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies — rituximab — was successful. Symptoms of intoxication and tromboangiatic syndrome decreased in 4 weeks. Disease was stopped up to 16th week. The case report demonstrates high efficacy of rituximab: patient with severe nodular polyarteritis remains clinical and laboratory remission during 52 weeks.Key words: children, nodular polyarteritis, rituximab.(Voprosy sovremennoi pediatrii — Current Pediatrics. 2011; 10 (2): 193–200)