EXPERIENCE OF RITUXIMAB TREATMENT IN A PATIENT WITH JUVENILE SCLERODERMA

Abstract

A clinical case of severe juvenile scleroderma is represented in this article. The patient had a high activity and aggressive course of disease, he was resistant to steroid, cyclophosphomide and methotrexate therapy in combination with drugs, improving blood circulation. The authors describe the successful usage of chimeric monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20 — Rituximab. By the 4th week of the treatment the signs of intoxication and local manifestations of the disease (density and area of scleroderma patches) have diminished. By the 24th week the immunological markers of activity have become normal. Afore-mentioned clinical case demonstrates high efficacy of Rituximab in patient with severe course of juvenile scleroderma. By now the stage of clinical and laboratory remission has maintained for 52 weeks.

Keywords

• children
• juvenile scleroderma
• rituximab