Comment on: Rituximab therapy for Takayasu arteritis: a seven patients experience and a review of the literature

Authors
Nakagomi, Daiki 
Kronbichler, Andreas  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2945-2946
Witte, Torsten 
Mohammad, Aladdin J 

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Article
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Abstract

Sir, Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a granulomatous vasculitis affecting large vessels, including the aorta and its main branches. It has a female preponderance and the diagnosis is usually made in the second or third decade of life. Imperfect activity scores mainly relying on a modified Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and scores including imaging have been proposed [1]. Treatment strategies used in the management of TAK are not evidence-based due to a paucity of randomised controlled trials. In general, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate (MTX), azathioprine (AZA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), leflunomide (LEF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) in selected cases, alongside steroids are considered as mainstay of treatment. Furthermore, biologic agents such as TNF-α inhibitors, especially infliximab (IFX), interleukin-6 blockade with tocilizumab (TCZ) and B-cell depletion with rituximab (RTX) attracted attention due to efficacy in mainly refractory TAK cases [2].

Publication Date
2017
Online Publication Date
2018-01-29
Acceptance Date
2017-11-15
Keywords
Journal Title
Rheumatology
Journal ISSN
1462-0324
1462-0332
Volume Title
57
Publisher
British Society for Rheumatology