Rituximab effect in severe progressive connective tissue disease-related lung disease: preliminary data

Progressive connective tissue disease (CTD)-related lung disease is a challenging condition that requires lung transplantation in some patients. Treatment with rituximab may improve lung function. To evaluate the effect of rituximab in patients with progressive CTD-related lung disease who met criteria for inclusion in waiting list for a lung transplant. Retrospective study of patients with progressive CTD-related lung disease with criteria for lung transplant (FVC < 60% and/or DLCO < 40%) that started treatment with rituximab because of disease progression. Clinical variables, pulmonary function tests and chest computed tomography were used to monitor the effect of rituximab. The cohort included 18 patients; systemic sclerosis (7), rheumatoid arthritis (5), systemic lupus erythematosus (4), Sjögren syndrome (1) and antisynthetase syndrome (1). The radiologic patterns observed were: usual interstitial pneumonia (1), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (9), lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (1), emphysema-usual interstitial pneumonia (1), shrinking lung syndrome (3) and undetermined pattern (3). Over the previous year to rituximab initiation a decline in FVC (- 3.8%, p = 0.095) and DLCO (- 8.4%, p = 0.004) was observed. After 2 years of treatment, DLCO significantly improved (+ 12.4%, p < 0.001 at 1 year and + 15.3%, p = 0.001 at 2 years). Six patients (33.3%) presented adverse events related to rituximab. No patient required lung transplant or died during the study period. Rituximab is an effective treatment for patients with severe and progressive CTD-related lung disease, which allows to delay lung transplantation in some cases.