Journal List > J Rheum Dis > v.21(4) > 1064122

Yim, Byon, Park, Lee, Lee, and Chung: A Case of Rituximab Therapy in Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Refractory to Steroid Pulse Therapy

Abstract

Rituximab is a chimeric murine-human monoclonal antibody that is directed against the specific B-cell CD20 antigen, which has recently been successfully used in active or refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) manifestations, such as nephritis, thrombocytopenia, and vasculitis. We report a case of a 25-year-old woman diagnosed with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage of SLE refractory to steroid pulse therapy. The patient was treated successfully with rituximab as a part of the immunosuppressive regimen.

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Figure 1.
The initial radiologic findings. (A) Chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse ground glass opacity. (B) High resolution computed tomography scan of the thorax showed bilateral diffuse ground glass opacity, interlobular septal thickening and multifocal consolidation in both basal lung.
jrd-21-201f1.tif
Figure 2.
6 weeks after treatment. (A) Chest radiograph showed resolution state of the previous bilateral diffuse ground glass opacity. (B) High resolution computed tomography scan of the thorax showed resolution state of the previous bilateral ground glass opacity, interlobular septal thickening and multifocal consolidation.
jrd-21-201f2.tif
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