Successful treatment using rituximab in a patient with refractory polymyositis complicated by scleroderma renal crisis

Systemic sclerosis complicated with renal thrombotic microangiopathy: a case report and literature review

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may overlap with other connective tissue diseases, which is named overlap syndrome. Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a rare but severe complication of SSc. SSc related thrombotic microangiopathy (SSc-TMA) is an infrequent pathology type of SRC, while SSc-TMA accompanied by overlap syndrome is very rare.

Case presentation

This study reported a case of acute kidney injury (AKI) accompanied with overlap syndrome of SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and polymyositis (PM). The renal pathology supported the diagnosis of SSc-TMA but not SLE or PM-related renal injury, characterized by renal arteriolar thrombosis, endothelial cells edema, little cast in tubules and mild immune complex deposition. The primary TMA related factors (ADAMTS13 and complement H factor) were normal. Thus, this case was diagnosed as secondary TMA associated with SSc. The patient was treated with renin angiotensin system inhibitors, sildenafil, supportive plasma exchange/dialysis, and rituximab combined with glucocorticoids. After 2 months of peritoneal dialysis treatment, her renal function recovered and dialysis was stopped.

Conclusion

This study presented a case of SSc-TMA with overlap syndrome. Rituximab can be used as a treatment option in patients with high SRC risk or already manifesting SRC.

Expert Perspectives On Clinical Challenges: Expert Perspectives: Challenges in Scleroderma

You are consulted to evaluate a 56-year-old woman with known Raynaud's phenomenon, finger swelling of several; months' duration, and new hypertension with a blood pressure of 160/100 mm/Hg. She also reports progressive shortness of breath. Physical examination reveals telangiectasias, sclerodactyly, and proximal skin sclerosis (thick shiny skin on the chest and upper arms), and bibasilar crackles are found on chest examination. Laboratory tests reveal evidence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevation of the serum creatinine level (previously normal), and chest computed tomography shows evidence of ground-glass opacification in both lower lung fields.

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis - challenges in diagnosis and management

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are different disease subtypes of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The main clinical features of PM and DM include progressive symmetric, predominantly proximal muscle weakness. Laboratory findings include elevated creatine kinase (CK), autoantibodies in serum, and inflammatory infiltrates in muscle biopsy. Dermatomyositis can also involve a characteristic skin rash. Both polymyositis and dermatomyositis can present with extramuscular involvement. The causative factor is agnogenic activation of immune system, leading to immunologic attacks on muscle fibers and endomysial capillaries. The treatment of choice is immunosuppression. PM and DM can be distinguished from other IIMs and myopathies by thorough history, physical examinations and laboratory evaluation and adherence to specific and up-to-date diagnosis criteria and classification standards. Treatment is based on correct diagnosis of these conditions.

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Challenges of diagnosis and management influences the clinical research and practice of Polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

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Diagnostic criteria have been updated and novel therapies have been developed in PM/DM.

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Pathogenesis investigation and diagnosis precision improvement may help to guide future treatment strategies.

Systematic review of the role of rituximab in treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, hepatitis C virus-related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, ankylosing spondylitis, and Raynaud's phenomenon

Rituximab (RTX) is established for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This systematic review of the literature since 2006 summarizes evidence for the use of RTX in the treatment of additional rheumatological diseases: antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), hepatitis C virus-related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, ankylosing spondylitis, and Raynaud's phenomenon. Data from randomized controlled trials are available only for AAV, confirming efficacy for remission induction, including in disease resistant to conventional treatment, and maintenance of remission. Further studies are required to confirm optimal maintenance regimens in AAV, important questions needing to be addressed including protocol administration versus treatment in response to clinical relapse and the importance of maintaining B-cell depletion. Sufficient data are available in other diseases to suggest RTX to be useful and that randomized controlled trials should be conducted.