Log in

Successful Management of Refractory Dialysis Independent Wegener’s Granulomatosis with Combination of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and Rituximab

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wegeners granulomatosis (WG) is an autoimmune, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody mediated necrotizing vasculitis involving renal, and upper and lower respiratory systems. Treatment relies on a combination of immunosuppressive drugs and tapering regimen of glucocorticoids. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been recognized as a second line treatment. We report the successful use of TPE in combination with rituximab in achieving remission in a patient with WG (dialysis independent) not responding to conventional therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Brazil)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

References

  1. Deyer G, Fan S (2009) Therapeutic implications of coexisting severe pulmonary hemorrhage and pulmonary emboli in a case of Wegener granulomatosis. Am J Kidney Dis 53:5–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Reinhold-Keller E (2012) Diagnostics and therapy of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitides. Curr Pharm Des 18:4537–4541

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Antoniu SA (2007) Treatment options for refractory Wegener’s granulomatosis: a role for rituximab? Curr Opin Investig Drugs 8:927–932

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee RW, D’Cruz DP (2008) Novel therapies for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Drugs 68:747–770

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Nguyen T, Martin MK, Indrikovs AJ (2005) Plasmapheresis for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in a patient with Wegener’s granulomatosis: case report and review of the literature. J Clin Apher 20:230–234

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schwartz J, Winters JL, Padmanabhan A, Balogun RA, Delaney M, Linenberger ML et al (2013) Guidelines on the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice—evidence-based approach from the writing committee of the american society for apheresis: the sixth special issue. J Clin Apher 28:145–284

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Klein I, Vervoort G, Steenbergen E, Wetzels J (2008) Progressive renal disease despite immunosuppressive therapy in a patient with Wegener’s granulomatosis. J Med 66:125–127

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Aydin Z, Gursu M, Karadag S, Uzun S, Tatli E, Sumnu A et al (2011) Role of plasmapheresis performed in hemodialysis units for the treatment of anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated systemic vasculitides. Ther Apher Dialy 15:493–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sugimoto T, Deji N, Kume S, Osawa N, Sakaguchi M, Isshiki K et al (2007) Pulmonary-renal syndrome, diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis, associated with Wegener’s granulomatosis effectively treated with early plasma exchange therapy. Int Med 46:49–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Jayne DRW, Gaskin G, Rasmussen N, Abramowicz D, Ferrario F, Guillevin L (2007) Randomized trial of plasma exchange or high-dosage methylprednisolone as adjunctive therapy for severe renal vasculitis. J Am Soc Nephrol 18:2180–2188

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Casian A, Jayne D (2011) Plasma exchange in the treatment of Wegener’s granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg–Strauss syndrome and renal limited vasculitis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 23:12–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Szpirt WM, Heaf JG, Petersen J (2011) Plasma exchange for induction and cyclosporine a for maintenance of remission in Wegener’s granulomatosis—a clinical randomized controlled trial. Nephrol Dial Transpl 26:206–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, Seo P, Langford CA, Hoffman GS et al (2010) Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. NEJM 363:221–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheetal Malhotra.

Additional information

Communicated by Haraprasad Pati.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Malhotra, S., Dhawan, H.K., Sharma, R.R. et al. Successful Management of Refractory Dialysis Independent Wegener’s Granulomatosis with Combination of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and Rituximab. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 32 (Suppl 1), 332–334 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-015-0507-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-015-0507-4

Keywords

Navigation